Question about construction of R815a from about 1969

I bought one a few months ago. The third time I wore it was the second time I needed to reset the time and date. Pulled out the crown and the whole crown-stem assembly tumbled out onto the table. Outfit I purchased it from explained as follows:

"Your IWC has a one-piece case with no removable case back so the movement is designed to be removed from the front. To be able to do this IWC used a two-piece stem design that separates so the movement can be removed. It’s actually the design of the watch and the only way the movement can be accessed...[and] it's quite common for the stem to pull completely out of watches from the 60s and 70s with a one-piece case."

Is that the case, as far as anyone on the forum knows?

Thanks
Charlie

Hi SFCHARLIE
in fact the Ref 815a comes with a one piece case also called "Monocoque". To be able to dismantle the movement split winding stem is used. The problem with your watch can be of two origins. If you pull out the crown an you see just a short part of the stem on the on the crown, then you have on piece of the split stem. If you can pull out the complete winding stem which is aproximately 10mm long you need to fix or thighten the holding screw in the movement. In the first case you can pinch the end of the slit crown to fix your problem. A watchmaker can fix that easily. In any case you should not be able to pull out the crown with your fingers. On a proper setup you need pliers to split the two piece stem.

br
cromagnonman