Help with latest iwc purchase Cal 852 silver dial

Hi everyone, I just got an IWC cal 852 and have done some research since (yep, I should probably have done it before I got the watch) and I have been unable to find another example with the same dial. Firstly I haven't come across any other silver "sunburst" dial for this caliber, and secondly, mine has a "swiss made" at the bottom, which is something I haven't seen in other examples either. Also my dial and hands are non-luminous, which seem unusual for this reference. According to the brilliant 'dateyouriwc', the movement and case were made in 1958 and delivered around 1959.

Any advice/comments on its originality would be much appreciated!

I think we have come across this watch and discussed it before.
Maybe a search in the archive will help.

The little magnifying glass on top right.

Hi Mark,

I have tried searching the forum but have been unable to find the watch in question..perhaps the pictures have been taken down. I also tried the vintage catalog but the link appears to be dead.

Would appreciate any insight you have on the watch.

Best,
Sean

Hi,

Your watch is likely a Ref 347A. I would
need to see the outside caseback to be more
sure. The Ref 347A and the Ref 347 are amoung
my favorite IWC watches. (The 'A' in 347A
indicates it is intended to hold an automatic
movement.)

In my opinion, your (silver like) dial is
less common than the usual white dial I see on
these watches, but it is authentic nevertheless.
Your dial is also a very nice example, in good condition.
These watches are generally not air tight from
what I can gather, so many can be found with
dials in poor condition.

If the outside caseback of this watch has
"lines" on the metal finish, this indicates
it has been polished.

If the outside caseback of this watch has
NO lines on the metal finish, and has
a mirror like look to it, this indicates
it has NOT been polished.

If your watch has been polished you have
a nice example.

If your watch has NOT been polished you
have a superb example.

These are just my opinions...

Regards,

-mmh.

Hi mmh,

Thanks very much for sharing this info! It's very helpful for me to know that it's all original.

The caseback has some light brush lines to it (see pic below), so I believe it has been polished. Not an issue to me, overall I'm pleased with the condition of the dial and case.

Cheers!

Best,
Sean