Hi Thomas do you have the info for the number of mk xi's issued in 1952?

kind regards Baden

There seems to be a shortage of 18mm admiralty gray strap but gas gas bones
appears to have them or not?

[www.gasgasbones.com/non-ggb-stuff/phoenix-nato-g10-watch-straps /phoenix-
nato-g10-admiralty-grey-watch-strap.html](www.gasgasbones.com/non-ggb-
stuff/phoenix-nato-g10-watch-straps

/phoenix-nato-g10-admiralty-grey-watch-strap.html)

The early webbing straps are super rare there is a company remaking them here
af0210strap.com/ I've not tried one yet but contemplating it.

Baden

Hi Adrian is it possible for you to email me the article too?

my email is b.h@ntlworld.com

Regards Baden

The original Mark XI came on a Bonklip the correct 17.9mm ones are getting
very rare it took me a few years to source mine, when not on Bonklip I put her
on a Phoenix NATO as used by the m.o.d they usually have 18mm stamped on the
reverse of the buckle.

I hope this helps Baden

Hi Bob and thank you for your reply sadly there isn't any numbers on tge end pieces? I've checked everywhere even with a loupe?

Could they be after market? They where a perfect fit on tge 819 though I'm pretty sure the case was used on some of the yacht club line? If not very similar.
It's a shame to sell it but finding a watch to fit the bracelet isn't working at the minute especially with my thing for mk xi and cal 89 watches.
I'm sure I can use the funds else where.

Thanks

I purchased this bracelet on a 854b R 819 AD but ended up in my spares drawer.
I need to sell to help fund a purchase but it would be good to find out what models it fits.

I've heard this bracelet should fit a few models but alas without a reference number it's all uphill.

Hoping you can help me.

Jimbo.

Thank you Tony I've asked iwc the question but I doubt I'll get an answer.

I suppose if if the dial has been changed for a genuine iwc ingenieur dial and hands is the worse case senario I'm very happy.

It's so difficult to guarantee 100% unless you have the full history or purchase the watch from the original owner.

It's a watch I've dreamt about for years so I want too try and not take the shine off buying this watch.

People's opinions on original dials has changed my 8531 automatic pictured here with my ingenieur and mark xi I did try to sell a few years ago and everybody moaned about the dial condition.
I'm so glad I didn't get a sale as everybody now loves it and think it's amazing.

Thanks for your help guys it's been emotional

Hi Tony shoot me an email too b.h@ntlworld.com I'll send some better pictures.

Regards Baden

There's something up with this forum I've tried to post a larger reply and it only posts my first line? Very odd?

Thanks Tony it's so good to get a bit of a seal of approval from you

Thanks Tony it's so good to get a bit of a seal of approval from you

Thanks Tony it's so good to get a bit of a seal of approval from you

Thanks Tony it's so good to get a bit of a seal of approval from you

Hi Tony
I too questioned a few things about this watch before buying it, there's that saying if it's too good to be true question it.
After questioning it I do believe the dial to be original.

The reasons are as follows.

1. The dial is marked Swiss and not T Swiss T this means the dial would have had to been replaced very early in its life or IWC carried old stocks of early dials. But randomly putting a gilt dial on?

2. the hands are gilt and match the patina of the indices perfectly also the lume colour are both a perfect match. If at a later date in its life it had a replacement dial I would presume it would have been easier to keep ss hands and go with a standard ss and black dial.
   The patina on the lume and hands is darker but this could also be because of storage especially in low light.
   I think it's a very random combination to be chosen from a service in the days without the Internet etc

3. The gilt is the older style of gilt that I am used to seeing on early watches by Rolex with that speckled texture as opposed to the smoother slightly raised gilt seen on later watches from the early 70s.
   I find earlier gilt writing has a more softer hue than the later gilt work which has a more yellow appearance.

4. There is only one lume dot on the 12 o clock position after the early sixties it seamed that the two dots at 12 became one of the main stays in the ingenieur line this got me at first but with a lot of research I found the one dot more prevalent in the models from the late 50's early 60s.

5. The watch condition is nearly nos with no apparent refinishing of the case etc the movement is spotless and bright and the guarantee paper has been perfectly looked after which says this watch was very very treasured and loved.
   I cannot see why the owner would then decide to replace or have the need to replace the dial? Especially putting a gilt dial and hands when it would be so much easier to go for the straight black and ss combination.
   I would presume that the original owner would have chosen this option when the initial purchase was made in 1963.

6. Lastly I suppose it's my dream outcome that he was short sighted and colour blind like my self and ordered a white date wheel tbh I can't stand black or dark date wheels as my eyesight isn't the best.
   I know of other black dialed ingenieur with white date wheels and it is noted on other Web sites and data bases that this could be a correct combination.
   Worse case senario is IWC did change this at a later date because they ran out of black date wheels?
   I can find no conclusive proof either way and I'm a glass half full kind of guy so I'm going to pray for the short sighted colour blind scientist who worked in lower light conditions and needed to know the date at a seconds glance to file his latest research about the effects of magnetisation.

This was a specialist watch and like my grandfather who was a electronics engineer working on early computers and telecommunications he was obsessive about making the right choices. His attention to detail was incredible it took him ages to research what shoes to by so much so he had to have them made because he wanted stylish brogres in chestnut brown with acid and corrosion resistant soles but they had to be welded rather than stiched.

Before buying this watch I had questioned all of the above before relying on my gut instinct and the belief there was someone as obsessive as my late grandfather.

Date wheel aside my instinct told me the dial and hands fitted a time frame of 3 years either side of 1963 which is a good indicator it's all original. The more expensive gilt dial and gold hand combo instilled this belief even more.

Sometimes a little leap of faith is required and the above evidence helped me.

Oh and finally if this was the combination chosen by the original owner in Vienna in 1963 he or she had fantastic taste.

I've been after an ingenieur for a long long time.
Not only did my dream black dialed 666 come up but near new old stock, original papers that fully match up with case and movement. Now a bonus it has a gilt dial and hands now I'm presuming this must have been a special or custom order.
I've seen a couple of late 50's model but this is the first 60's model.

Purchased in Vienna in 1963 and she has led a very sheltered life as she is still razor sharp with all original finish.

I'd love to find out a bit more regarding this dial option and hopefully find some other similar models.

Enjoy the pictures.

Baden

not sure if it's the right end pieces but I have a near new IWC oyster on my 819 cal 854.

my email is b.h@ntlworld.com

Regards Baden

This was brought up here by the previous owner of my watch in 2004 but I'd thought I'd give it a second try to see if there was any new light on the matter.

I've purchased a near NOS IWC ref 819 AD (1819) cal 854b

Everything is spot apart from the dial? I have purchased the watch with an educated guess that it is a marriage.

Now the questions the previous owner has owned the watch for around 14 years he sent the watch to IWC around 2004 via watches of Switzerland and he questioned the dial then. It came back fully serviced with no mention of any discrepancy regarding the dial?

The watch has an engraving from a German company in 1972, the watch seems to have hardly ever been worn every bit is mint and not over polished or finished. So if it's so well looked after and spotless why would it have ever needed a dial change?

Another option is the possibility of a special dial at purchase but I cannot find another the same, the IWC, Shaffhausen and automatic print is really nice and appears to my untrained eye original. The numbers and markers do look slightly bubbly under a loupe they don't seem as raised and very flat?

Another option is the watch was purchased by somebody prior to 2002 wanted more of a military look and this was married off but the dial plate looks very good quality and looks every bit IWC?

I'm very puzzled and intrigued by it.

I'm hoping you guys could help.

With out pictures it's hard for me to give an answer.

I'm looking forward to seeing them.

Hope these images work

This is my 1951 hooked 7 mark XI I purchased it off a good friend and this watch had belonged to his father. He served in the RAF and for BOAC and at somepoint it had a replacement back, or did it? I always presumed it was a replacement back but recently I have seen 3 other hooked 7 mark XI's which makes me think there's a pattern forming?The case back is a genuine iwc back and it makes me think that it must have something to do with BOAC?

some help or input would be greatly received.
here's some pictures
Thanks for looking Baden