Vintage Catalogue Project - Years of issue

Hello Michael et al,

I have learned a lot through browsing the catalogue library, very much appreciated. For unknown reasons my main interest time window is early 60's to late 70's.

I have lately been able to pick up some IWC catalogue hard copies from the 70's here in Sweden - in great almost untouched conditions incl flyers with recommended retail pricing in Swedish currency (crowns). I have found no indications of year of issue/print.

Now, the catalogue with a price list dated 1975 is actually the "Exculsive" issue that is listed as the 1974 catalogue in the Vintage Catalogue Project.

The second catalogue is named "Selection" and is not available in the Vintage Catalogue Project and has a price list attached dated 1976. It's about half the size of the "1974 Exclusive" (approx A5 landscape) and has the same graphical style - dark green with a goldlike square.

Eventually the question: Is the dating of the Vintage Catalogue Project referring to the year of issue of the catalogue, or the "model year" of the watches?

Now experts - Let me know!

Hi Telecaster,

Most catalogues have the date on them, but I cannot see a date on the 1974 catalogue. I have a very similar catalogue with a white cover rather than the green with gold cover but it too is undated. Contents are the same.

Perhaps you can post some pictures of your smaller catalogue?

Cheers from the cellar

Absolutely!

I'll get back with images within a few days.

Need to use a camera, don't want to squeeze it through a scanner..

Please stay tuned.

Here som quick photos. The Swedish AD price list is a separate print dated March 1976.

All watch illustrations are showing the ref no and then commented in German, English and French languages. Prior to these pageges however there are some introductional pages printed in Swedish!

The answer is unfortunately "it depends". Some catalogs were dated, and then that date was used. Some had no date but a price list, and then the price list date was used. Some were dated and had a price list with a different date (often a year later) and then the catalog date governed.

Michael,

that's definitely fair enough! The Vintage Catalogue Project has been a great source of inspiration and knowledge for me.

And your answer also supports my theory - some years the catalogues were probably issued the year before the actual "modelyear" they were supposed to support.

Best rgds