• Apprentice
    9 May 2011, 1:06 a.m.

    Hello everyone, it's been a long time since my last post here.

    Last year I purchased an IWC cal.89 in steel with an extremely damaged dial, and since then I look for a replacement.
    A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to buy on the internet a genuine C.89 dial, even if it had a diameter of 30mm compared to 31.5mm of mine.
    When the package finally arrived to me, I had the unpleasant surprise to constat that this dial does not fit on my movement. The two feet on the back are thinner and at a smaller distance than those from my first dial.

    farm4.static.flickr.com/3492/5700737781_36df260daa_b.jpg
    farm6.static.flickr.com/5267/5700739661_36f25f4ffd_b.jpg
    farm3.static.flickr.com/2013/5700741459_148f3c1013_b.jpg
    farm4.static.flickr.com/3006/5701312700_ce6229b4cb_b.jpg
    farm3.static.flickr.com/2763/5701313856_13699c6029_b.jpg

    Do you have any informations about C.89 variations with different positions of the fixing holes for the dials? Different case styles/dials/diameters ment sometimes different positions of the feet?
    I had no doubt that all 220,000+ IWC C.89 have compatible feet positions, until now...
    Could this recent dial come from a C.401? (slightly smaller than C.89)

    Thank you for all your competent opinions!
    Kind regards,
    Cip

  • 9 May 2011, 1:35 a.m.

    No, they don't all have interchangeable dials. Candidly, I'm not sure why who would think that the movements governs the dial. The cal. 89 was produced very many years, more than 20, and was cased in different cases or varying sizes. I don't believe there's any easy or simple answer to finding the right dial, although a similar size case around the same year is a high bet.

  • Apprentice
    9 May 2011, 2:28 a.m.

    Thank you Michael for your quick reply.

    I will try to put my question this way:
    Did IWC change the position of the holes for the feet of the dial in the C89 movement during the production period, or they remained unchanged?
    It's hard for me to believe they had variations of the movement with different holes for different types of dials. (their management would be a nightmare)

    Kind regards, Cip

  • Master
    9 May 2011, 3:28 p.m.

    As a watchmaker working on C89 movements for many many years I have not come across anytime variations of this calibre regarding dial leg positioning.

    Michael already described the other differences in dials related to many varied case sizes and construction. From my experience I can tell you that even the factory must see the complete watch before determining whether any other dial can fit a particular case.

    I also think that many cases for this calibre were made by outsiders in other countries by some distributors.

    Regards,
    Jack Freedman

  • Apprentice
    10 May 2011, 12:16 a.m.

    Jack, I spoke today with two watchmakers and one vintage watches dealer.
    They all confirmed your opinion, saying they never encountered C89 movements with different positions of the holes for the dial feet.(legs)
    Anyone else's opinion is welcome. Thank you!

    Regards, Cip

  • Apprentice
    18 Jun 2011, 3:58 p.m.

    Have you found an answer to your query? I was wondering if it's possible to put a Cal 401 dial on a Cal 89 movement at all?

  • Apprentice
    14 Oct 2015, 11:27 a.m.

    It might be, that the new Dial was sold as an C.89, but.. it is simply not for this movement! My suggestion is, check if possible other movements from IWC and their mounting wholes. Greetings. Marcin