pocket watch assistance required...

i am considering buying my first antique pocket watch.
the seller guarantees it's an IWC but i just wanted to make sure.
movement is inscribed "S & Co, Peerless” # 156884.
i know s&co shipped iWC watches.
any chance it could be fake?

pics of watch...

I wouldn't do it, given an unsigned dial

Hi Stephen,

Peerless was stamped on IWC movements imported to the UK by Stauffer (S & Co.), the UK importer. But also there were Peerless and S & Co. stampings on non- IWC movements, since they were the importer's marks and the importer used them on other brands as well. You can read more in the archives about this.

I can't 100% tell from your movement photo, but it's possible there is an IWC Calibre 57 movement here (many pocket watches look similar). I'm not completely sure, but you might want to compare a "head on" image with those shown in the Vintage Catalog project (www.iwcforum.com/Vintage_Catalogs.html)

This watch should be very inexpensive --it is common and this is not a special nor high-grade movement (look at the screws around the chatons). As such, why settle for a generic dial? Sure, some were made that made that way, but for a watch of this quality why not get at least an IWC dial? Also, while the Cal. 57 --if it's that-- is serviceable and still good, why not look for a more "interesting" movement? For less than 500 GBP you should be able to do much better.

Regards,
Michael

I like learning

from the advice given here.....

• Andrew

+1 here too. nt

thanks michael

really appreciate that.
i'll let it be.
stephen

Just an other pocket watchers idea...

I got some pocket watches too.

The movementi IWC, this is clear. signed S&Co. This was the UK distributor for IWC. So no problem.
The time this movement was built, it was common to have unsigned dials.

To se if the case is original we would need a picture of the inside of the back(s) with it's serial number.
As it seems the movement is not 100% fitting the case, there could be some doubts on it.
But the shape of the case is typical for the UK case of that time.

regards

Ralph