Anti-Magnet circa 1939

Hi all -

Pleased to share a recent pickup that I would like more information on. It is Anti-Magnet with a 35mm case, fixed bars, and Cal. 83 movement. The dial appears to be original with an even patina throughout and the blue hands could also possibly be original with very light corrosion. Not sure is the crown is correct.

Case number series is 101XXXX and movement number series is 98XXXX - dateyouriwc app places it circa 1939.

Can someone point me in the direction to learn more about the Anti-Magnet history? Are they rare? What do you think about the condition? Should I pursue an Extract Archive for it?

Hope you like the pictures!
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The case, the dial and the crown seem genuine to me for a cal. 83 from that era. However, something terrible happened to the case back. The "notches' you see on the outside are not made by the IWC factory but by somebody who tried to imitate a screwed case back, while the case back of all cal. 83 was a "snap-on" one. So that person scre.... the case back in a horrible manner.
I am not trying to disapprove your watch, just telling the sad news.
I would look for a proper case back, rather than ask for an extract, which is expensive and which will tell about the situation on the back.
Kind regards,
Adrian,
(alwaysiwc).

Thank you for your response. I agree that a child must have tried to open the back, but I don't necessarily think the case back is incorrect. The notches could have been overused or "stretched" from misuse, but this cal. 83 was intended with a screw back. I will look to see if I can upgrade the case back - may take a while.

I found another watch online that uses the same case (different dial) and the serial # is 2,000 away from mine, so this case design with screw back does seem correct for some Anti-Magnets. This whole experiment of mine is an educational one and I'm seeking to learn as much as I can on cal. 83, anti-magnet, and early IWC's. More feedback is welcome.

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My knowledge of these is very limited.

Consider going to this page of my website:

www.time514.com/C83.htm

There are *TWO" sections there namely:

"Acier Staybrite Screwback Thin Bezel"

and

"Acier Staybrite Screwback Wide Flat Bezel"

that might be of some use to you.

Best regards,

-mmh.

Indeed a very interesting website, thanks a lot for the hint and the effort.

Regards

HEBE

Ref 304, Anti-Magnet and Hermet cal 83, 1944

Ref 304, Anti-Magnet and Hermet cal 61, 1943

Nice watches all - spin_transistor as Adrian wrote, the watch is great the case back needs attention.

If you like the watch and it's a keeper - consider sending it off to Schafhausen for a SPA ..... those Wizards of Schaffhausen do wonders and love a challenge like that case back. Wont be cheap - but you will get back an absolutely brilliant timepiece thats' good for another 100 years plus.

IWC no longer issue Extracts of the Archive - but do do the so called COA - Certificate of Authenticity. For that, you would need to send the watch to Schaffhausen in anycase (via an AD). Again, here I agree with Adrian...nice to have a COA, but money better spent on the watch itself.

Thanks for sharing.

If you'd like more information, please search our archived posts, via the upper right magnifying glass.

I just put in the word "hermet" and found about 50 posts, going back to 2001.

These watches are not uncommon, but not as popular today since most are 30mm in diameter --tiny by today's popular taste, for better or worse.