Iwc ref 817a

Hi all.
Just picked up this piece at an Internet auction.
Really miserable pictures and no info as to ref number etc but I liked the look of it and liked that it seemed to have a GF bracelet (no photos of the clasp though).
Placed a low bid and ended up winning the auction.
I am really pleased with what I got...
A flawless dial (black dial turned tropical or "native" Brown?), an unpolished case, a guy Frere bracelet.
I removed the case back pretty easily and found it a ref 817 A and a cal 8541.
I can't however find much info on this reference and I would love to get your comments and thoughts, please.
[](s1033.photobucket.com/user/RyanK_2010/media/20160509_200702_zpsakycjigz.jpg.html)
[](s1033.photobucket.com/user/RyanK_2010/media/20160509_165253_zpsdqx9pamw.jpg.html)
[](s1033.photobucket.com/user/RyanK_2010/media/20160509_164811_zpsbzp4lqn5.jpg.html)
[](s1033.photobucket.com/user/RyanK_2010/media/20160509_165024_zpssnzphrqa.jpg.html)

Hi Ryanbk,
Your watch is one of the best automatic watches ever made in Switzerland : IWC cal 8541 from 1967.
Also the bracelet is a collectors item heavily sought after.
The only detail that worries me are the indices on the dial at 6, 9 and 12 o'clock.
I have never seen them before and they look rather "bold" to me.
I wonder whether these are original IWC.
Kind regards,
Adrian,
(alwaysiwc).

Thanks, Adrian.
I found another watch currently being offered for sale on an Internet auction site with a dial exactly the same as mine. The case is different and hence I assume the reference is different but does seem to indicate, at least to me, that this dial may be original...
[](s1033.photobucket.com/user/RyanK_2010/media/Screenshot_20160525-233756_zpslvmpozh0_edit_1464468572325_zpsjj6dclsi.jpeg.html)

This specific variant of 817 is known but uncommon, it's case with an ill-fitting bracelet and having a dial that would also show itself on a follow-on ref means just about nothing once a big company's decided to shift stock...

That said the ref 817 that Schaffhausen decided to get behind (bother to list) and provide with a 20mm lugged case of screw-back variety whilst also finishing off the case with detail more commonly seen on high end all gold offerings (of the day) is for my money the most beautiful wristwatch Schaffhausen ever produced. The non date version of it is very rare....there is something about 10mm deep x by 20mm lugs that can make a wis study it for a long time...be a long time till we see those proportions again (in-house)

Thank you for taking your time...
Not sure if I understand you correctly - are you saying my watch "is known but uncommon"? Because that was one of my purposes of this thread - to learn that it's either kosher or not...
I agree with you on the bracelet - the fit could be better, I plan to use the bracelet on a different watch (or sell it, haven't decided yet...) and put on a nice leather strap.

There are two (case's) versions of the ref 817, non of them are common, though the version you've not got is within documentation from Schaffhausen themselves...'still with it' (big smile)?..the version you have got is known to have popped up to my knowledge from back in the late '80's and so i'd guesstimate that because your version only seems to appear with a cross-over dial and with the lack of documentation ever having materialised then it was something of a short lived move stock affair (seen it possibly 5/6 times but never devoid of date work)..i could'nt imagine that a three baton dial without 5 coats of lacquer would cost more than a 11 batoned dial with 5 coats and the level of finish to the case of the 11 batoned dial is in my experience much higher than the sample you've depicted in this thread..so one version ticks every box and one version is odd but i'd wager still very correct.

ps...i would'nt even be too suprised if the bracelet left it's last schaffhausen terminus coupled to the watch...the fact it is ill-fitting would marry perfectly to how other companies were carrying-on...in just the time frame being discussed...an odd watch deserves an odd fitiing bracelet surely?....lol's

pps could i trouble you for a pic of the external face of the case-back?

Thanks...
I'll take a photo off the external case back soon, need to fetch the watch from the bank vault.
In the meantime would you have a photo of the watch you are referring to as "the most beautiful..." and "ticks all the boxes..."?

Unfortunately Ryan i don't have any pictures, though if you've a mind for a nice wristwatch it would'nt be hard to establish that 36mm x 10mm x 20mm is a hard combination to make ugly.

By the way...well done for having the courage to have a punt at the internet auction watch....it was never going to be a lot for a dot-to-dot collector.

Any reason this thread is in the community section????????

Great acquisition! And as Adrian wrote, possibly still one of the best ever automatic movements to come out of Swiss manufacturies.

And in pretty good condition for it's age. DYIWC Quote:"The movement is a calibre 8541, dating from the year 1969. The case was most probably produced around 1968 and delivered up to 1971."

Great find and I wish you well to wear it. I do suggest that you have a competent watchmaker service it, or failing that send it to Schaffhausen for a SPA. IT will come back like new and be ready for the next 45 years !

Thanks, Mark.
The DYIWC is fantastic, just tried it out myself.
The bracelet clasp says 4/69 too...

Here you go:
[](s1033.photobucket.com/user/RyanK_2010/media/20160531_202922_zpsr0teq5tu.jpg.html)

I think it's safe to presume you've done well Ryan...thank you for your time.