Here are the pics. The box opens as shown below

Hi - just for clarification, Mark was pointing out that the movement in your watch is from 1956, not your watch. Based on your dial - with the block IWC logo- your watch would have most likely been assembled and sold in the late 60s or in the 70s. Without a case back - where the case number is engraved - it’s not possible to know when the case was made but it’s normal for movements to predate cases.

As for finding a case back, you’ll need to find a watchmaker who can determine your options. 
Good luck!

T

Hi

What you are experiencing is the interface between the movement and the hands controlled by a part called the cannon pinion.

It can be neither too loose nor too tight or there’ll be “slop” in the hands or too much restriction, causing the hands to move inaccurately, so it’s important to get it as precise as possible.

While I don’t know why, IWC has chosen to allow some level of slippage in their design - thus the instructions they provide. It’s likely a trade off between consistent adjustability and wear and tear.  Since they have quite a history using ETA movements, they may have incorporated a similar design in their own movements. ETA has a slightly different design which all but eliminates the slippage but may result in greater wear and part replacement. By allowing a bit of slippage, they may likely avoid the wear problem. 

As for your “dead zone”, i don’t think you’re doing any damage unless you’re sensing metal-to-metal contact but if you follow their instructions you shouldn’t have a problem. 

Different companies take different approaches and IWC isn’t the only company that has this characteristic, but they’re the only one I’ve encountered that accounts for it in the instruction manual. 

Hope this helps.

Cheers!

T

 

Thanks! If you’d like to read about how I acquired it, here’s a link to the story:

http://tnr.homestead.com/TheWatchThatNeverGrewOld.html

It’s hard for me to believe I’ve now left it unworn for 23-years, but it just feels like I should preserve its original condition. 

Cheers!

 

There is no definitive information that I have found on the dates of the various boxes used by IWC. I have one Cal 88 that was never worn and came with all of its original parts - box, strap, buckle, papers - dated 1947, so I know that box is at least from the 40s. The buckle was not signed, so I believe the first signed buckles appeared in the 50s: 

Here is the buckle from the 40s:

As for the boxes, there were many variations - here are a few - and the green box you reference came in several different colors - green, blue, red, black.

In the next photo, you'll see long boxes that I believe were used in the 50s but I can't be certain. I think most boxes were eventually discarded as no one considered them important. Buckles most likely got lost or discarded during strap changes.

I understand your desire to have the proper accoutrements for your C852, but its simply hard to know its original packaging, though I'm fairly certain the above IWC buckle is period correct. Neither of these items will greatly affect the value of your watch and I agree that they should sell for far more than they do. You can take comfort knowing you got a great watch at a great price!

Good luck on your hunt!

T 

Hi Catherine,

Thanks for your comments and the link.

The watch shown is indeed the one in my post.

I apparently acquired it from the person who bought it from Goldammer.

Regards,

T

Here are a couple of interesting C83 cases that I had not seen before that I think are quite beautifully styled. As it turns out, these two cases are numbered consecutively in the archives, dating to circa 1947.  One shows no record of ever having been sold, while the other case was sold in 1947 but returned in 1961, where it eventually made its way out of the company again at some point. I don't know if the earlier sale was for just the case or as a complete watch. 

The movement in one dates to ~1944 and the other to ~1939. It's all a mystery needing further research, but I'm inclined to wonder if these two cases are unique. Perhaps they were samples provided by a case maker?  At any rate, they're beautiful to my eye and I thought I'd share them with you. The dials have been examined by a watchmaker and declared original, but on the other hand I wouldn't love them any less if they'd been "cared for" along the way - 78 years can be quite a journey for a mechanical timepiece.

The photos aren't great but the focus is on the case design. If you have knowledge of other examples of this design, it would be interesting to know. BTW, I recently acquired one of these from a well-known fellow collector so if it looks familiar, it's already accounted for :-)

Cheers!

Terry