• Apprentice
    24 Jan 2021, 4:20 p.m.

    I found this watch after sorting through some of my great grandfathers
    possessions. I was wondering if anyone can help me identity and possibly get
    some information about the watch. I popped the back off to take a look, i see
    no battery self winding?. The watch works but sometimes it does stop and i
    have to turn the side dial and it starts ticking again. If anyone has any
    information on the watch the year, if the band is origional, etc anything
    would be great help seems to be in good shape. It had no packaging or
    paperwork with it
    unfortunately.

    Thanks

    Robert

  • Apprentice
    24 Jan 2021, 5:01 p.m.

    Sorry I don't know what it is but it's a good looking watch. I'm sure someone
    here can be more helpful.

  • Connoisseur
    24 Jan 2021, 8:51 p.m.

    Hi, nice watch, thanks for showing!

    The movement looks like a cal 89, one of the best there is. But not self-
    winding. There is a number next to the balance wheel. Google dateyouriwc and
    enter the movement number
    and the case number (on the inside of the back cover). This will give you some
    idea of when it was made. From the look of the dial my rough guess is second
    half of the 1950ies.

    Since the watch probably has been lying around a few years you should not run
    it for any longer time without having the movement serviced, it needs a clean
    and oil. Otherwise the wear on the mechanism will quickly become a problem
    since all oils have dried out. Any competent watchmaker can do that (not those
    guys that just change batteries and sell cheap watches). The cost of a
    service is at a guess a few hundred dollars, but then you will have a
    beautiful heirloom that will serve you many years.

    The strap is most probably not original, the watch is around 60 years old. A
    leather strap dries out and becomes brittle. But
    that is not a problem, if you need a new strap, buy something you like.

    Please tell us what your decision is, we love to hear from these oldies.

    Best regards

    Henrik

  • Insider
    25 Jan 2021, 4:27 p.m.

    Hi Robert,

    from the Movement number 1088094 we can find out the following: Your watch is
    equipped with a Calibre 60 Inca. It was made in 1944 and was the sucessor of
    Calibre 61 - the first center second movement. Cal. 60 has a diameter of 10
    lignes 23,35mm and a height of 4,15mm. It comes with 16 rubies has a breguet
    type hairspring and ticks at 2,5Hz 18000 amplitudes/hour The total production
    number is 12600 pcs.The movement was in production from 1943 to 1947. The
    INCA. stands for the Incablock shock absorber your watch is the first series
    that was equipped with a shoch protection system on the balance wheel.

    The movement is rather small in diameter to make smaller watches possible. If
    im not wrong it was one of the last design before Abert Pellaton took over as
    technical director.

    br

    Cromagnonman

  • Insider
    25 Jan 2021, 4:42 p.m.

    Hi Robert,

    one more thing. Your watch is wound by hand, not automatic or battery driven.
    The consequence is that you have to wind it on every at least 40 hours by
    turning the crown on the 3 o'clock position. I suspect the dail to be
    repainted, the minute markers on the photo are not printed exactly, but that
    can also be induced by the angle of which the photo was taken.

    br Cromagnonman

  • Apprentice
    26 Jan 2021, 1:14 a.m.

    Appreciate all the information, i am going to bring it to a real watchsmith to
    get it serviced. Thanks again

  • Connoisseur
    26 Jan 2021, 9:13 p.m.

    Hi again,

    Cromagnonman certainly knows better than I do. A really nice watch a little
    older than my guess and a lot more rare than the calibre 89. Take good care of
    it, a more beautiful reminder of your great grandfather is hard to find.

    By the way, did you ever meet him? Would be nice if you did.

    Best regards,

    Henrik