This watch was given to my father in the late 50s by a client. Unfortunately the back of the case is scratched - I really don't know why - but apart from that it is in excellent condition. The case number is 1277367.
What was was this type of watch called?
What was the date of manufacture?
What did it cost originally?
What would it be worth now?
I'd be very grateful if someone could shed some light on any or all of the above. Thanks.
Hi Richard and Welcome to this great forum!
The watch you posted looks to me like a ref. 1876. It has the famous 8541 calibre, with 19800 vibrations/hour - 2,75 Hz.
My source, says it was produced within 1990 and 1995 but I have read other comments saying a different timing, we better wait for the reply of some real experts that will surely help you and anyway, I suggest you to searh into the archives.
We're not allowed to talk about prices here, so I suggest you to wait for some replies by mail, they'll surely come.
Last but not least, Congratulations on your watch! It's really a beautiful piece of chocolate (common way to call this kind of square shaped watch).
I send you another link where you can find several technical datas.
Regards,
Roberto
It's a ref. 1150 from the early 1950s....
Hi Richard,
Back when it was produced, it was a special watch although today it's a little out of vogue due to its size (32mm) and being square.
It is a reference 1150, and its entry from the 1957 catalog is linked below. It was featured in 1953 and 1954 ads for iWC because it used IWC's new automatic movement (the above image is from 1954 --sorry it's not larger). As an educated guess, your watch should be from 1952-1953, and certainly no earlier. I don't have the original price without spending a lot more time, but as you might expect it's not much since the price of gold back then was $35/ounce.
While we can't appraise the watch here --certainly not without seeing it, but we can guesstimate a range, I would say it's worth 3000 to 5000 USD today, with the higher price being what a store would ask. However, the scratch would need to be considered, although the back doesn't look bad, as well as the condition of the movement.
By the way, on the movement : it's an earlier version of the calibre 8541 our friend above mentioned --most like a calibre 852. You can read more about the movement by checking the archives here.
Finally, this isn't an official name (which is the reference 1150) but some collectors call this model "Cioccolata" --as a square watch it's supposed to look like a box for a piece of chocolate!
Regards,
Michael
The 1876 was a later "copy" of the this...
...really in commemoration of the original model. Note that the 1876 has a date, and this one doesn't.
Also --our rules regarding price discussions may not be clear. For vintage watches we can't appraise nor discuss specific prices, but general price ranges for models are OK. Contemporary watch pricing can't be discussed. This was "clarified" a few years ago, and I know it's suble at best. ;)
Thanks --nothing is simple!
Michael
Sorry Richard and thank you Michael
I should have understood, Richard infact was saying his father received this watch in the 50's, so no chance to be a piece produced in the 90's.
Sorry Richard for trying to put you off the road, I didn't do it for purpose.
Michael, thank you also for your clarification regarding price discussions, I wasn't aware of the rules for vintage watches.
Thank you furthermore for the info regarding ref. 1150, I better keep on studying :-)
Regards,
Roberto
It's a beautiful watch!...
Your father's client had good taste. Thanks for your inquiry...because not only did we get to see your watch, but it gave us a learning opportunity from Roberto and Michael. That is always a great way to start the week.
Best regards,
Jim
& there's a guy in Schaffhausen who wants it
This sign has been up forever, it seems, in a Schaffhausen store window.
More pictures...and thanks
Thanks you so much for the information and your time MF and flyrobyfly. What a great response - very much appreciated. I guess I'll have to talk to the owner of the shop in Shaffhausen now!! It is real I take it?
I'm not sure if you are interested but here are 3 more photos (1 as a link below) of the mechanism and case interior. As you can imagine I was super careful - I'm well aware of the delicacy of the mechanism / dust concerns etc..
I notice just to the left of centre of the case interior the is what appears to be scratched "R/1359" - any clue as to what that means?
Best regards.
I thank you Richard, MF did the real job
I didn't know this model. Thank you also for the image of the movement which I find quite charming and beautifully taken.
I take this chance and I hope Richard you don't mind, to ask to the forum what's the function of the part I marked in red in the picture you posted.
I doubled it in order to make it easier to understand.
[
](s294.photobucket.com/albums/mm101/flyrobyfly/?action=view¤t=1.jpg)
Thanks in advance for the replies will come.
Regards,
Roberto
The movement appears to be very well-preserved
and you are the lucky owner of a very nice vintage IWC. Congratulations.
Thank you for your contributions everybody (nt)
tHE DIALS BE RE-DONE RICHARD
....AT SOME STAGE OF IT'S LIFE AND THE MOVEMENT S BEEN EXCHANGED SINCE IT WAS GIVEN TO YOUR FATHER, THIS MAY WELL EFFECT IT'S VALUE TO A COLLECTOR.
Index spring
Hi Roberto,
When trying to identify parts remember that the Vintage Catalog project contains Fournitures # 7 (and earlier editions) that we can use to identify each piece.
We can identify your highlighted part as 85249 as the index spring for the regulator, thus providing fine regulation
We can also see the progressive improvements that were made to the regulator. Here is its predecessor
Cal 85 - part number 8544 - just the index but no fine regulation
www.iwcforum.com/Catalogs/1952Fournitures/0700031a.jpg
And the successor - Cal 854 with IWC precision adjustment part numbers 85444 - 85447
www.iwcforum.com/Catalogs/1952Fournitures/0700034a.jpg
I hope this helps.
Cheers from the cellar
I quietly thought that it had redialled :-) (nt)
It sure helps, more, it solves my question
Thank you Greg. To tell the truth, I tried to search but I was looking in the wrong place (page), in other words, not searching for the right caliber.
You are decisive, as usual, but it's easy for you, you are the cellar!
Kind Regards,
Roberto
It's a ref. 1150 from the early 1950s....
Interesting here to see in the catalogue the name Schaffhouse not Schaffhausen? Reminds me of a story where Japanese businessmen in 1948 built a small town in Japan called Ewusar. Goods manufactured there bore the words “Made in USA”. (smiles)
tHE DIALS BE RE-DONE RICHARD
Hi Catherine -
Unfortunately, my father passed away a few years ago and don't know whether it was worked on or not. How can you tell the dial has been redone? Can you tell the movement has been replaced as well?
Thanks.
I thought the same Roberto ;-) nt
