No --this isn't the 22nd watch in someone's collection. Nor is it a calibre 22. Rather, this watch appears to be number 22….not 22 out of an edition, but the 22nd watch produced by IWC under the so-called “second numbering” in the 1880s. It’s not mine –but rather it was recently acquired by another forum member with my help. And herein lies a story.
Recently a non-descript pocket watch appeared on eBay. The dial had no signature, and the case was gun metal. It could not have looked more ordinary.
But a collector noticed it and wrote me, asking me what it could be. It looked a little bit like my rare Calibre 33 Elgin from about 1883. The so-called Elgin I’s (and no one knows for sure what they’re called that) come in four calibres: 32, 33, 34 and 35. They’re really rare, and I see more Jones from the 1870s for sale. The Elgin I in my collection is this one:
The conclusion I reached was that this most likely was an Elgin I calibre 32. It basically was the same layout as my better-finished cal. 33, but inverted.
But –wait—what was the number on the watch? Mine is 5083; plenty low, and the consequence of the so-called “second numbering”. This one was a little difficult to read, even in better light:
I still couldn’t read it well, but up-close it reveals something very interesting:
Yes, indeed –this is number 22 of the second numbering.
And of course for the pocket watch collector this watch is alluring. The collector wrote me and asked if I was interested in acquiring it for my collection. He said he didn’t want to stand in my way. And, while I didn’t have a caliber 32 in my collection, I didn’t want to spend more than a certain amount –-probably less than the watch would sell for. So I told my friend to “go for it”. And he did –with great luck.
Congratulations!
