use of `swiss made ` or `swiss` on an iwc dial ?

Dear members i hope you can help me with this.
I am looking at ref 666 dial with case and movement numbers from 1959/60 according to the data base. The dial looks to be good except for the Swiss made mark below the 6 hour marker.

From what i can find this mark was not officially in use by law untill 1971. From the same era i can only find marking Swiss , t Swiss t, or no marking. Only 1 example on frizzleweb with this marking Swiss made. Is there any data on the period they used Swiss or Swiss made on watches ? I could not find it here or on the net.

A repaint is not logical , why the extra word ? and a redial should also just mention Swiss i think. Sorry i cant show a pictue.

I would appreciate your thoughts on this please.

I've never put any credence in dial nomenclature with those words, or theories about them revealing redials. Different dial makers were used at differen times, and there was no standardization for such details.

Thank you mr Friedberg.
So the use of swiss was the common one to use without any ruling or law in the 50s and 60s ?, and Swiss made was maybe unusual but had no other meaning or significance ?

In my opinion, probably. It depends on the brand, the dial manufacturer, the specific date, etc. There isn't reliable date to do other than form off-the-cuff personal experience generalizations.

you might find this article interesting. Composed by 3 of our IWC friends. I think this is Part 1 and I believe there are at least one or two updates which can be found on the internet

www.frizzellweb.com/larry/ingenieur/

Thanks Ivan, but i did check the frizzleweb already.

I think that "Swiss Made" started to be used after the British Merchandise Marks Act of 1887.

Before that Swiss makers had been getting watch cases hallmarked with British hallmarks, and there was some reaction by English watchmakers against this (perfectly legal at the time) practice, so the 1887 Act introduced a series of new requirements for marking imported items so that they could not be mistaken for English made items, particularly watches, which were singled out in the Act for special mention, and I think that the use of the term "Swiss Made" on watches began in 1888 as a result of that, although I don't know how quickly or widely it was adopted.

I can't comment about specific markings on IWC dials.

Kind regards - David

Thanks David, for this excellent information.

Why not simply post a clear image of the dial? If it appears correct in all other respects, then there shouldn't be any worries.

Cheers,

Tony C.

Thanks Tony, i am not so much worried about authenticity , more curious to the why it is being used in the years 59 and 60, and not before or after.
Mr Friedbergs explanation of different manufacturers seems logic, as there were no other rulings or laws in those years mandating Swiss or Swiss made.
I think it is authentic, i had some trouble getting the pic viewable :

Looks like a nice, and somewhat uncommon example. Congratulations!

Cheers,

Tony C.