Gold 18k pocket watch, help in finding some history about it :)

Dear all,

Would kindly request your help in trying to identify the model of the IWC pocket watch for which there are links for photos below (please copy and paste every link into your browser to see the photo).

It recently came to my attention a gold pocket watch that has come down through the family and that hasn't see the light of day in decades. My father thinks that the watch must have been inherited by his father somewhere in the first half of the XX century, but it might well be that the watch itself is older than that.

It has the mark 18k engraved in the inside part of the back case (with some sort of circular mark below it), plus a IWC engraved mark and the nr. 139180. On one border I seem to be able to see in a very faded mark (of distinct quality an and font, something that reads ..933, can be 1933).

It has a white dial with roman digits and the brand's name depicted just below the XII mark as "International Watch Ca.". There is what seems to be a contrast mark below the winding dial, on the front of the watch.

If someone could help me with this quest I would be much appreciated. Thanks for you time.

José

PS. I was unable to open the case and display it clock mechanism, sorry for that!

Jose, based on the case serial number, the Date your IWC application lists this as :

The case was most probably produced resp. delivered around 1895.

Any competent watchmaker should be able to open the case for you, so that you can share photos of the movement and we can advise further.

It looks to be in fair condition, but can probably do with a service. You do not state in which country you live. This is of course of interest, especially in understanding where the earlier IWC shipped to.

Dear Mark,

Thank you very much for your reply and information.

It is much older than what I expected. My father assumes that the watch might have come down the family through a relative that once upon a time emigrated from Portugal to Brazil, where he made quite some money. I would therefore presume that the watch was either acquired in Brazil or in Portugal. Given that date I would maybe suppose Brazil since that ancestor only returned to Portugal, I think, in the first decade of the XX century.

We are trying to know a bit more about the watch model so we can get an estimate on its potential value. There is no IWC services in Portugal, and we were told that it would have to be shipped to Zurich for repairs and this would cost around 1 to 2 thousand euros. We are not sure if this is worth it for the value of the piece, and we have the option to have it repaired in Portugal by a master watchmaker at a much more reduced cost.

I will try to post some photos of the movement soon, but since I live abroad and the watch is back in Portugal it might take some weeks before I do so. I appreciate your help in any case.

Best regards,

José

I have now been informed that the serial number of the movement is: 122578

Unfortunately I still don't have photos of it yet. Could you maybe tell me a bit more about now that you have the info about the serial nr of the movement?

Thanks,

José

Edit: I have now found online that the movement is:

The movement is a LÈp. calibre 52, dating from the year 1895. Lép. c. 52 - 19lig. H 7, Mod. 1894

I know nothing about watches but I am guessing the H stands for height and I have read that most cal. 52's height was either 5.2, 6 or 6.5 mm. Is then a cal.52 H 7 a less common movement to find? Is it a mark of early cal.52's ?