Some help on ensuring the papers and an IWC portuguese match?

Hello. I mentioned this on what I thought was a related post but there were no answers: So here go's

I'm looking at buying an IWC portuguese form a respected used watch dealer here in Canada. He has the box and papers for the portuguese chronograph, but I was wondering what I should be looking to "match" when I compare the guarantee card and the watch. For example, there is a serial number on the back of the portuguese, but that number doesn't match any of the numbers shown on the guarantee card. Specifically, it does't match the "Artikel-Nr.:" or the "Gehäuse-Nr.:". My intuition was that the "Gehäause-Nr (case number)" would match the back of the watch, but the numbers aren't even close (watch begins 291, and the card begins 310).

If it makes any difference, the watch is 2005.

Cheers,

J

Hi,

The Gehäuse Nr is the case number and should match the number on the guarantee card. If they don't, the card and watch do not belong together.

The case number on the back of the watch should match the number on the guarantee card. The other number to match to Archival information will be the movement number found engraved on the movement itself. The case number and movement rarely, if ever, are the same.

So the watch in this photo doesn't belong to the card:

Cheers,

J

Two thoughts: The card does not match this IWC. Or the AD at the time, filled out the card incorrectly. You will not know for sure. I would insist on an explanation. The watch looks very nice, btw.

Thanks Bill!

I hope to be the proud owner (first timer IWC) next week, but I've already sent an e-mail asking for an explanation. I intend on having the dealer open up the watch also, despite that I'm 99.99% positive it's not a fake.

Cheers,

J

Afaik this is not a reference (Article number) 371404. The 371404 has white subdials.

Interesting. So one can infer that this card is entirely incorrect in relation to the watch. I gather the "article number 371404" is at the very least still a reference for a portuguese chronograph? As in, the person writing down the number's wasn't looking at a completely different watch (which would make me much more suspicious about the mistake)

Cheers,

J

3714 indicates Portuguese Chrono. The last two digits indicate the version.

Personally, I would proceed under the assumption that the card does not go with that watch. As such, I would want documentation from IWC indicating when it was sold (but I tend to be cautious with such things).

@ DMATH, I share your cautious nature.

The seller got back to me, and indicated that it was the wrong card and he will contact the original buyer (the original buyer is his friend) to get the correct card (original buyer collects IWC).

Thanks for the guidance!

I hope that the correct card shows up for you so that you will be a new owner of this super watch.

In the archives there is an excellent post about how difficult it can be to tell the dofference between a 3714 which was authentic and fake. I don't intend to say that the one you show is fake but I thought you might like to look in the archives for your interest.

Do you think I could call up IWC and ask if they can confirm the name of the original purchaser in the archive records? Although I realize at first glance, this kind of information seems a little personal, but its not at all like i'm asking for protected information. IWC's name archive for specific watches is not protected information under some statute or other legal authority. And, after all, when one purchases a used watch with papers, they are by definition going to be asking about someone else (i.e. the original purchaser) when they contact IWC for the archival information (an expected and normal request for which IWC gives out elaborate documentation.

I guess I'm asking a question and also giving my opinion about what the answer should be (law people like myself do this often), but does someone have a verified answer?

The original purchaser recorded by IWC is usually the selling AD. And afaik you cannot call IWC about this.