As part of the extract process, does IWC confirm that the case and movement numbers match? Does IWC also confirm that the watch with a given case+movement has the correct case/ dial?
For example, let's say I sent in a Vintage Collection Portuguese in a platinum case but with a black dial. As we all know, the platinum Vintage Collection Port only comes in a white dial. If the numbers and/or case/dial combination do not match, I assume IWC simply does not provide the extract? Thanks.
Another extract question / answer
Q: Does IWC also confirm that the watch with a given case+movement has the correct case/ dial?
A: Yes for case-movement match. No for dial match.
Q: If the numbers and/or case/dial combination do not match, I assume IWC simply does not provide the extract? - Yes this is correct. I dont know what they send instead - probably a short letter. I know one "case" where the case number was only partly readable and they would not provide an extract even though the 4 numbers which were readable did match what was in the archives. A letter describing this was sent back to the person.
Andrew
No case-movement match!
The extracts from the archives are based on the case books. The case books doesn't comprise the movement No., but only some details of calibre.
So:
If you send a movement No. only to Schaffhausen, you get nothing.
If you send a case No. only to Schaffhausen, you get an extract with only the calibre, but no movement No.
If you send case and movement No., you get an extract showing the case and the movement No. named by you provided the data on the movement match with the data on the movement noted in the case book. Otherwise you will be informed, that there is a mismatch and no extract will be issued. But in fact although "your" movement No. is given in the extract, nobody checked the movement No., but only the calibre.
Maybe by now it is possible for IWC to verify whether the movement bearing the serial XYZ left Schaffhausen in the case No. ABC. But in the past the records did not allow that (or only with unreasonable efforts).
So don't rely on the movement No. given, but on the calibre named only.
Hope this helps!
Th. Koenig
P.S. No details on the dial etc. are checked except these details are part of the Ref. No.
Indeed
Here's a dificult-to-read photo I took of IWC's records in 2001 that they use for extracts. You can see the case numbers clearly on the far left, but the details don't include movement numbers.
Regards,
Michael
Thank you
very much for the full clarification of the details......
In the last year I had several extracts and I always give them the watch to open and inspect themselves - since I dont have case opening tools to take the movement numbers.