Checking authenticity of a preowned IWC I want to buy, need assistance

Dears,

I am interested in buying a preowned IWC Schaffhausen Automatic (1955). How do I check authenticity?

Pictures are available on Chrono24

Best...

When you purchase from an unauthorized seller you assume all the risk and have no guarantee of authenticity, condition etc. If you want to take the risk, then you really have to know what you are buying and trust the seller. The advice you will receive on this IWC sponsored forum will be to purchase from an authorized dealer.

An authorized dealer? For a vintage watch from the 1950s?

There are a few, but not many, fakes of 1950 IWCs, and most of the professional dealers on well-known sites are reputable. But they are not experts, parts can be substituted over decades, condition can be poor, etc. I think you have to know what you're doing, have a seller with a real track record, and be prepared either to pay a lot for service or try to resell even at a loss.

I consider myself relatively expert, and I've encountered serious condition issues and even one fake (that was returnable, thankfully) in about 20 years of vintage watch buying.

Google "IWC Schaffhausen Automatic (1955)" and see what pops up. I wasn't surprised in the least that the results yielded many vintage collection Ingenieurs, some of which are indeed still available from ADs and Boutiques. I have seen Vintage Collection Ingenieurs listed as "1955" so the year was what caught my attention. That said, the watch in question could very well be a vintage watch from the 1950s.

You may well be correct, Ben. As I pay no attention to the contemporary market, I was completely ignorant of the possible connection.

Thanks.

Regards,

Tony C.

There are 2 more issues to mention here.
With the help of the forum members and some clear pictures of the watch and its movement and inner case, it is possible to identify the movement and case number. You can find on this forum the movement numbers on a complete list of all sold IWC from 1885 till 1974. Compiled information will bring for 98 % sure if your watch is ok and even if there are non-original parts ( re-dial etc.)
A 100 % garantee will come too late. This guarantee is provided by IWC if you have sent the watch for identification to Schaffhausen and ask for an extract of authenticity.
This is a time consuming and expensive procedure.
Kind regards,
Adrian,
(alwaysiwc)