I have in my Pocket Watch Collection and interesting 16Sz 17J Private Label pocket watch that has been identified as an 1899 IWC pocket Watch sold in Victoria British Columbia by the Jewelry and Watchmaking firm of Challoner and Mitchell. The movement is an IWC 52/53 calibre design. The inscriptions on the dial and movement only identify the Retail Firm. Did IWC engage in the manufacture of unlabelled Swiss ebauche movements to any signficant degree back around the year 1900.
I don't think that is an IWC movement. Here is a cal 53
and a cal 52
Thanks clearly my movement is not similar to the ones you have pictured. The IWC association came to me from my watchmaker that identified patents on the pillar plate....with this analysis
The clear image of your pillar plate provides two critical new clues that completely break the mystery wide open.
This is definitively an IWC (International Watch Co.) movement, specifically their highly regarded Calibre 52 or Calibre 53.
1. The Cross-Patents Confirmed (🇨🇭 Swiss Patent + 🇺🇸 U.S. Patent)
Looking at the bottom edge of the plate, we can clearly read two cross symbols followed by numbers: + 2614 and + 8287. Along with the word BRÉVETÉ stamped on the right, these represent Swiss Patents.
If this movement is not a calibre 52 or 53 is there another pocket watch movement IWC made and distributed worldwide as a raw ebauche in that 1890 to early 1900s timeframe. This firm who sold this watch ended in 1910.
