1942 IWC - Model ???

I inherited a 1942 IWC, but I am unsure of the model and the caliber. The model number is 1072464. Please see the pictures, i shall provide any other information needed. Thank You.

i think it's a cal 73 or 74...

and the watch is a Savonette, i think.
i could be completely wrong.
michael is the man for this.
stephen

You might have hit the jackpot

Hi willd,

On quick glance, it appears that you have a Calibre 74 movement, which was a pocket watch movement that was used in only a few wristwatches --those are Ref. 325 Portuguese wristwatches. Less than 700 of those were made, and today they are highly collectible (generally with a price today between 20,000 and 40,000 USD depending on several variables ). However, there are others that someone, other than IWC, converted from a pocket watch to a wristwatch, and those "marriages" have nominal value at best.

The number you gave is not the model number but the case number. I will check tonight if your case is within those for the Portuguese wristwatch according to IWC's records.

What is the diameter of your watch, excluding the crown, in millimeters?

Regards,
Michael

It looks like a real gem, very nice! nt

nt

Jackpot indeed, can't wait for your info nt

nt

That is more than interesting

will be waiting for your post Michael.

Best regards
Argiris

Jackpot pending........

interesting inheritance.....I hope it is is Ref 325.

Andrew

Numbers...and a personal judgement...

I tried to read the calibre nr, and best guess was ~912023 which means Cal.73 of 1929 and H4 which is rather "high" for a wrist watch, which I believe IWC has never used as not slim enough at that time to wear on the wrist.

I know of my pocket watch with a cal.73 carrying the number 897880 dating from 1928, so the movement is not to be disputed. Also the material, as the bronze colour indicates it is not the high end steel or nickeled calibre, which also exist, be it with different cal. numbers.

But the case, does it match? The case nr indicates date of 1937 the earliest, and - at that time - I am wondering whether cal. 73 's were stil available and whether these qualities H4 / bronze were still built into wristwatches...?

I am not sure and have my doubts.

I just note, form a visual point of view, that the case is very Portugiese-like, e.g. the dimension of the lugs versus the case's size, the width of the rim / bezel etc. I mean: all dimensions seem to fit. The case looks very OK.

From above, I would doubt the original roots, and would tend to call it a marriage,... but who am I...?

It looks like a worthwhile object to possess. Not my cup of tea to judge it's real value or authenticity.

Whish you all good luck with that nice piece.

Ciao, Rob.

Forgot to mention the difference with the C.73...

which is only the switch between positions of the winding wheel/crown and the spring/barrel. All others (wheels and bridges) seem to be in the same position as the C.73.

Just a (important?) detail

RE:You might have hit the jackpot

Hi Michael, and everybody else responding to my post.
I have uploaded the pictures in higher resolution. The number on the caliber is
1. Gehäusenummer: 1072464
2. Werknummer: 932022
Sarah Tanner from IWC told me that according to their records this watch had been sold in 1942.
The diameter is 42 mm, and the thickness is 10.5 mm.
It runs smooth..like a swiss watch. Thanks!

Here's hoping.....

I do hope you have made a remarkable find!

Fingers crossed for you! nt

Think you got it........... ;^)

You did hit the Jackpot!!!

This watch is one of 108 original calibre 74 Portuguese wristwatches ref. 325 sold in 1942. A total of 674 Portuguese wristwatches have been identified to date.

For many collectors, this watch is an icon.

Congratulations,
Michael

Hi Rob, with respect why you're incorrect....

One should, as you have, approach any purported Portuguese wristwatch finding with skepticism. But your concerns here were, with respect, misplaced.

The last Cal. 74 movement by IWC was made in 1931. The first ref. 325 Portuguese wristwatch was made in 1939. Therefore, there has to be a gap between movement and case numbers;.

In fact, earlier cal. 74 movements were used extensively in the 1940s in Portuguese wristwatches. For some strange reason, one was cased in wristwatch in1951.

All this tends to support my personal hypothesis: the pcoket watch movements of IWC did not sell in the 1930s, which was both the Depression and also the time when there was a paradigm shift to wristwatches. IWC did whatever it could to unload these pocket watch movements, like selling them years later to Rodrigues and Teixeira (and then others) as wristwatches.

Regards,
Michael

What about the dial?

While I like the style of the dial, it looks to me the dial has more of a design from the 50's instead of the early 40's.

Best regards,

-mmh.

Wow!! Lucky you. Amazing find.

Congratulations on a very, very special watch.

my best guess it's original...

...my major "reservation" from the photos is that the crown doesn't look as typical wide as most originals. I think the dial is.

Regards,
Michael