Newbie taking a leap into vintage watches - cal. 403?

Hi everybody!

I am obviously new to this forum, considering that this is my first post.
Great forum you guys have!

Also, I am quite new into whole vintage watch collecting bug, and up unitil
now I mostly refurbished my late grandfather's, and my wife's late
grandfather's watches (None of them IWC sadly, but darn do I love them!).

I also grabbed some vintage swiss made pieces, but all of them were on the
cheap side (cheap as: more bucks went to my local watchmaker for servicing
then for the watches themselves).

Well, I am looking for a timepiece that is going to be my first big leap into
vintage watches. Quality-wise, and therefore also price-wise.

I found this watch for sale:

The pictures are mostly redundant, and blurry.

The seller only wrote that the watch is cal. 403. and that it is in working
condition.

His price is around 450$ (basically that is my watch budget right now). And he
is not too far from my home, so I could pick up the watch myself.

Is this watch the real deal, or is it a Franken (or something worse) ? I
spent some time researching on this forum and beyond, and the mechanism seems
legit. But then again, I am a total newbie. And I can not evaluate the
condition of it.

Also, there are some deep scratches on the bottom side of the case. Light
polish will not get rid of them, I am afraid.

The third thing is - it is hard to trace the proper value of these watches.
One was recently sold on bay for around 380$, others similar are listed for
1500 or 2000+ $. I am clueless if this watch is a good deal or not.

Well guys, all help is much appreciated.

Should I take a leap, or not?

Hey guys,

any info?

Is this watch the real deal, or not?

I am researching online, but I just do not feel confident enough to pull the
trigger based on my own (lack) of knowledge.

Any advice would be helpfull. Tnx!

Although I cannot read the movement number, everything points to the IWC
calibre 403 : the movement, case, dial and hands.

The dial has some specs and patina.

It is a very 'used' watch, but the price, if it ticks, is very much ok.

Regards,

Adrian

(alwaysiwc).

Thank you, Mr Adrian!

I really like the dial with this patina. I do not mind it at all....

I contacted the seller, and he told me that the mainspring was replaced some
time ago. He is not sure when, as he inherited the timepiece from his father.

Is the mainspring being replaced a big deal?

He told me that there is no other damage, and no other parts replaced.

Anyway, the seller had sent me some more pictures of the mechanism, but they
are not the best. Also, there is no serial number on the caseback?

If that mainspring replacement, and no serial number is not a big deal, I am
planning to pick up the watch in two days.

Thank you again, for your help!

Saw this late, but I doubt any information I have would change anything.
Hopefully you have the watch in your possession today?

Yes I believe everything is legitimately IWC about the watch. Parts like
mainsprings or crystals are like wear items on an auto, and may or may not be
sourced by IWC. Further, it doesn't matter for things such as a crystal or
mainspring.

It seems a bit unusual for the case not to have a serial number, but from the
pictures I would have no reason to suspect the case was not authentic.

If all worked out for you as expected, nice pick-up! The two cal. 403 watches
I used to have were problem-free, as all of my IWC's have been. Enjoy!

Hey, just a brief update:

I am a proud IWC owner!

In person, the watch seems quite better. The scratchmarks on the bottom are
not nearly as pronounced as on pictures. The play of light and shadows, I
would say.

Also, there actually IS a serial on the caseback,but it is faint. You can see
two of the numbers on the updated picture of the caseback, if you look
closely. Even in person it is barely readable.

I traced the serial to the year 1976, and movement to the year 1973, using the
app some of you guys recommended on the other topic.

Your posts, and the knowledge I gathered on this forum played a critical role
in this purchase.

Thank you for your help!

Congratulations! Nice to know there is a serial number on the case after all.
My beloved Titan models have the serial number engraved on the back of the
case, which makes it subject to wear. The engraving is not very deep to begin
with, but so far I have not seen one where the serial number has been
eradicated.

It's nice to know that the watch looks better to the naked eye than it does
in the pictures. I find that to be true in most cases. I'm not sure that's not
just a matter of my eyes getting old!

Glad it turned out better than you expected.

I have had several similar situations and like you was pleasantly surprised
once the article was in hand.

It is difficult to photograph watches properly and most folks selling a watch
have no clue of how to get

the perfect glamor shots.

ENJOY !!!

I would not doubt on the originality of the case.

My three reasons are the following :

If you google 'IWC, calibre 403, you find several watches with exactly the
same barrel shaped case.

Cal. 403 is not a watch on the top list of IWC collectors items. So there is
little reason for fakers to copy it : the value is not high enough.

And thirdly, the watch has been on the wrist for a long time, taking in mind
the number of scratches and dings. This was a 'users' watch, a working horse
for many years. It is for sure an unspoiled genuine IWC watch.

Congratulations ,

Adrian,

(alwaysiwc) .