Need help with this IWC Cal. 853

Hello IWC Forum Members!

I'm new to this forum. I've come here for some help. 8)

I've recently acquired a vintage IWC Cal. 853 and would like some help in indentifying whether or not the dial is original and has never been tempered with (ie. refinished) and whether or not the crown is original to the watch.

Any help is highly appreciated.

Cheers! 8)

Hi Niko4891
the overall impressionof the watch is good. The crown is ok, the hands have some patina but fit the dail (lenght of minute and second hand). But the dial is just to perfect for me. If the hands have that kind of patina, the dial usually also has some spots. If you check the side of the indexes, do they have the same color as the background of the dial, which is a typical sign of a redone dial?
Anyhow very nice watch

-br 
Cromagnonman

Hi Cromagnonman,

Thanks for your comment. 

I'll have a look at the sides of the hour markers. What do you think of the fonts on the dial, i.e. "International Watch Co. SCHAFFHAUSEN" , "AUTOMATIC" and "SWISS" ?

Thank you.

Cheers,
Niko

Hi Nico,
the longer i look at it the mor i get the impression that the dial is redone. The font of "Schaffhausen" is not crisp, the "Swiss" is quite big, but this could also be misleading. Please check the minute markers also, do they have the same color as the hollows of the hour markers or do they have the same color as the dial background ?

br
Cromagnonman

Hi Cromagnonman,

Thank you for pointing the fonts out. I'm starting to have my doubts.

I've added a picture of the dial. Please help me identify if the minute markers show any signs of a refinished dial.

Thank you.

Cheers,
Niko

Hi Nico,
with the close up on the dial, i am sure that the dail is redone. Look at the minute markers between 50 and 55, the new onaes are slightly offset. However, the quality of the dial update is pretty good. As stated, it is really hard to find a 50 year old IWC with a flawless original dial.

• br 
  Cromagnonman
  

Hi Cromagnonman,

That's bad news. 8(  Thank you for your help!

Can anyone else please help by confirming this?

Thank you.

Cheers,
Niko

Repainted dial for certain. 
The little pip indeces should be metal. You can see they have been painted over. 

Hi Mark,

Thank you for your confirmation! Appreciate it. 8)

Cheers,
Niko

Very nice watch otherwise, and as Adrian says “Pretty hard to find a 50 year old IWC with flawless original dial”

Thank you (Mark and Adrian) for all your help. I really appreciate it. I've learnt a valuable lesson here. 8)

Cheers,
Niko