Gents and Gals Who Adore IWC,
I'm looking at this Cal 89 that is 36mm with movement and case serial numbers
that indicate it's from the early 50's. My concern, however, is the lack of
the "Schaffhausen" signature and the numbers font. I have yet to see another
cal 89 like this. Do the hands and crown look fine too? Can anyone vouch for
this
watch's legitimacy or should I be concerned this is an unorginal dial? Thanks
in advance my people.
New information: I just spoke to the owner of this watch and he says the dial
is original despite the lack of a "Schaffhausen" signature. I did some
research using IWC catalogues from the late 40s and early 50s and I found
other examples on other models (not cal 89s though) where there was a lack of
this signature (see top photo). I also found a photo of all the various dials
and number fonts used during that era (see bottom photo) which now gives
credence to the funky "2" font used on this watch. Regarding the hands, the
owner said that the second hand was clipped due to damage.
I guess I can live with the shortened second hand, but I will be tempted to
find an original hand to replace it. I'm not sure how expensive that will be.
However, the price of this watch is far below the market price of other cal
89s. Essentially, I can buy this watch for the a modest premium over the melt
price of the 18k gold it contains and for the price of selling the cal 89
movement for service parts.
Nonetheless, it seems obvious I am trying to talk myself into buying this
watch. I need you, the more seasoned IWC connoisseurs, to ask the tough
questions and bring up the issues I have neglected. So what am I missing here?
I share your concern. I believe this is an original IWC dial but I doubt that
it would belong to a cal. 89.
If you google 'IWC, cal. 89' you will find over a hundred cal 89 watches with
dial but all have the addition Schaffhausen.
Statistically speaking, it could be a very rare but original cal.89 dial but
this is unlikely. It is also a dial for an automatic watch as the sub dial at
6 o'clock is not present.
Regards,
Adrian,
(alwaysiwc).
Adria, thank you for your reply. I agree with your concerns. Can you please
clarify what you mean about your last sentence? Most cal 89 watches I see on
Google do not have sub seconds and are hand wound. What makes you believe this
dial belongs to an automatic movement?
The dials you posted belong to IWC Cal 88, movement with subdial at 6.
You asked if we recommend the watch for purchase. Obviously we can't do that,
but if you LOVE IT, then sure!
Don't look at price alone regarding a purchase, there could well be reason
that the watch is priced well below other Cal 89s that you have seen.
Search on and find a watch that is perfect in every way and is not surrounded
in doubt.
Mark, thank you for that helpful information. Cheers.
Obviously, I expressed myself wrongly.
I meant to say that the dial on the calibre 89 has a centre second, while the
dial of the black watch you show has a second at 6 o'clock ( on a sub dial).
Of course both watches were hand wound. The cal. 89 was one of the first wrist
watches produced by IWC with centre second. Another movement with centre
second from about the same period was cal. 403.
At the end I still believe that (almost) or all dials used for a cal.89
equipped watch had a logo with 'international watch Co' and below that printed
: 'Schaffhausen'.
Again sorry for the confusion,
Adrian,
(alwaysiwc)
Great, thank you for the clarification, Adrian!