Question about a Classical IWC Cal. 83 (no Calatrava anymore)

Hi everyone,

I'm a new member of this forum. First of all, I have to say that I'm an
appassionate of vintage/old watches, but absolutely not an expert.

I got this old IWC from my grandmother. At the beging, if I have to be honest,
I didn't realize what I had in my hands. I gave the watch to a friend of mine,
an old watch repairer, that cleaned it up and has fix a couple of things.

Now that the watch run, I'm curious to discover a bit more about it and his
history. After a few researches, I discovered that it's (probably) an IWC
Calatrava, cal. 83 - approximately of the 1940.

But I'm a bit confused because I found only a single watch like mine. Hands
and quadrant don't match, but they are similar to the Calatrava cal.83 of the
1940/1945. Maybe it's a different version? Or someone messed up differents
parts, I don't know.

For these reason I decided to ask the help of all of you. Hopefully, I'm in
the right forum. Thank you in advance for your time. Every information about
this watch will be really appreciated.

Claudio

Hello Claudio,

IWC never made a "Calatrava" model. Calatrava is a trademark and model name of
Patek Philippe. What we see on your pictures is a classical IWC Cal. 83 dated
1938. The Cal. 83 was produced from 1930 until 1947 in atotal number of 68400
pcs. of which 10800 where made with a Incabloc Shock resisting assembly (your
is without the Incablock). In the earyl fourties IWC produced quite small
watches of around 32mm case diameter, which are compared with the 42 mm
watches not so popular anymore. I like them anyhow. The Cal. 83 is a high
quality nicely finished watch movement.

br

Cromagnonman

Hi Cromagnonman,

Thank you so much for these explanations. As i said, I'm not an expert at all,
I looked in Google in order to find some information...apparently totally
wrong.

About the watch, according to your knowledge, it's original in all of his
parts? I wonder because I didn't find any watch similar to mine around

Moreover, I'm pretty sure about the mechanic part, but unfortunately the
quadrant (I don't know if it's the right term) is a bit ruined. In order to do
a complete restoration of a watch like this one, is it possible find pieces?
Or there is someone able to renovation a watch like that?

Thank you again

Claudio

IWC didn't produce model Calatrava,according to your pictures, that watch is
classical IWC Cal. 83. By the way, I love the clock mechanism looks attractng,
nice pics,bro.