Could it be, it was the way for the Swiss industry, to declare their heritage despite that new technology?
For a long time, finitures represented a way for watchmakers to express their professional pride, after all.
Thanks Heiko, for this interesting contribution.
Thank you Adrian for the pictures of these exceptionally accurate movements and thank you Roberto for pointing out the details.
Heiko, thank you for the interesting Quartz movement pictures. It is interesting to see they are marked with 'unadjusted'. Obviously, adjusting a Quartz movement for different positions is impossible (or isn't it?) but in that case why did they specify this? Was this obligatory?
Kind regards,
Clemens
Hi Clemens, this "Unadjusted" was only for US administration import regulations at that time !
Unadjusted movements had lower tax.
No joke, just the funny reality :-)
Of course, a quartz movement can be regulated, because the resonant circuit consists of a coil, a capacitor AND the quartz.
Greetings
Heiko
Honestly I never consider IWC finishing is near to top notch brand, not that I have handled many, to me its always clever engineering, a tools watch and a workhorse, my 2 cents, but good to see this thread with so many interesting movement pics. Thanks guys!
Rgds
kee siew
I've found a site with fantastic pictures of several IWC calibres.
The site is non-commercial but specifically warns not to copy any picture.
I guess it's still fine to share the link:
nakahiro.parfait.ne.jp/shasinkan/27.html
You will see, in order of appearance:
Calibre 83
Calibre 98
Calibre 87
Calibre 61
Calibre 89
Michael, if you think it's not appropriate to share this link, with my excuses in advance, please delete this post.
In this page instead, always from the same site:
nakahiro.parfait.ne.jp/shasinkan/03.html
You will be able to see two different interpretations of calibre 8541.
Simply looking at the bridges, it's clear finishing quality changes and that's probably because of the case metal, the one in gold, being more precious, is better finished.
That's something - please amend me if I'm wrong - that has been missed in the current production (that is, steel or noble metal, finishings are always the same).
When the sole purpose is to measure time accurately, movement finishigs, interesting as they are, are secondary imho.
The only "finishing" in this cal 52T movement is the IWC logo in the cartouche. Anything else would be incongruous.
No elaborate finishing is also beautiful. :-)
+1!
Fantastic! Thanks to everyone, this is a beautiful way to propagate knowledge!
The watch is an astonishingly piece of history, but it's not haute horlogerie infact :)
The central second system and the overall technical features make of it a highly technical tool-watch for those times - imo.
Excellent (and very funny) insight, thank you Heiko!
[[QUOTE="flyrobyfly36"][...The watch is an astonishingly piece of history, but it's not haute horlogerie infact... :)/QUOTE]
What do you mean it was not "haute" horlogerie? She flew higher than any watch at her time. :-)
I agree mostly with Antonio. I am a watch-wearer and focus more on the functionality and wear of my watches. IWCs have great design, and great great wear for me. For movement finishing, in my opinion at the best achievable prices for IWC, the level of movement finishing for those prices is very decent and is attained at good monetary value.
That having been said - I would like one or two pieces with excellent movement finishing - at the best achievable pricing, I think Laurent Ferrier's Galet Micro-Rotor, and the Langematik Perpetual have superb finishing at that price-value. Recently, I considered the open display back of Richard Habring's (formerly of IWC) Doppel.
It would be interesting to see a new release with great movement finished by IWC within reasonable price ranges. Incidentally, (a personal wish here) it would be great if it were found in a handwound doppel/chronograph display-back watch !
:)
I'd add its allure beats any contemporary pilot's watch.
Dear All,
Please consider this post - accordinlgy to my intentions - is not about agreeing/disagreeing with someone/something (although it's a pleasure to read opinions, so keep them coming too) it simply wants to focus on the theme of finishing.
I think there's a lot to say still.
A journey through time about IWC's craftmanship in the art of finishing, that's my idea.
The archive (the magnificent archive we had but still have) sometimes performs less better than in the past years, to search a good picture of a specific calibre is not always easy etc.
This post could be a place to implement a specific topic and become something to bucket to in the future, thanks to your contributions.
That's my hope :)
LOL! ;-)
Actually, here I think the bridges and cocks are nicely beveled. It is only the top surfaces that are not decorated.
On decoration such as Cotes de Geneva stripes or rhodium plating, I know some people who believe that such work helps avoid dust and particles from accumulating, which therefore prolongs the life of the movement, and accordingly indirectly maintains accuracy over time. I do not know if that is true.
An underestimated calibre => C.887
COSC, circle deco, gold plated, blued screws and a platinum segment for the rotor.<<<
Agree on that. Are we opening the IWC's suppliers page?
What IWC was used to implement, in terms of finishing, in a JLC movement?
I've only had a ref. 3537 (calibre 917, base calibre JLC 916) and, except for the rotor, I don't remember significant differences between the JLC and the IWC version.
Through this link: nakahiro.parfait.ne.jp/shasinkan/13.html
it's possible to see excellent pictures of calibre 79230, ETA derivated.
In this case also, what parts were upgraded (finishing) by IWC?
Thank you Heiko. I know Quartz watches can be adjusted but I think not for the position the movement is in?
Kind regards,
Clemens
Dear Michael,
As you state, there is no clear evidence that Côtes de Genèves or Rhodium plating would avoid attraction of dust. Such attraction has to do with the level of how firmly the case has been closed by the case back.
But, about C.52 SC, I would like to say a few words about finishing. First of all the movements were gold plated. Secondly, these were "Observation" watches used by the German Airforce (Luftwaffe) and by that, the equivalent of the "Deck" watches used at sea. The Germans tested these watches according to chronometer specifications in their own country in several locations, among them Gesundbrunnen. This means that these watches were excellent products, finished to be chronometers, and by far superior to the "ordinary" IWC PW's of that era.
Kind regards,
Adrian.
(alwaysiwc).