• 30 Mar 2020, 6:43 p.m.

    As some of you know, I am collecting pocketwatches, IWC only.

    Far from saying that my collection is a museum collection but I am proud to
    have found some nice and rare pieces over time.

    Some of the pocketwatches are common, easy to find on the market, sometimes in
    better condition than mine, but some I have are gems.

    So in these crazy times, as the museum in Schaffhausen is closed, why not open
    one here on the forum.

    As long as the museum is closed, I will post here daily a pocketwatch from my
    collection.

    I hope I don't run out of pieces before the virus is beaten. Fingers crossed
    for all of us.

    I will post them in a random order, with some comments, feel free to join.

    Keep safe all.

    DAY 10 :

    Day 10 already and today I want to show you a cal 57. a not so rare cal but
    this watch came with some interesting facts.

    First of all, it came with the original box, and that box is a rare box, not
    the usual vertical shape, but more horizontal in layout.

    The case is a 14K gold case , and we can date the watch being made in 1903.

    The cal 57 was made from 1890 to 1931, so a long period of time.

    Notice the logo on the inside of the case : JWC

    "JWC" is the elder trademark used up to about 1904, when the round stamp "IWC
    probus scafusia" was introduced.

    So no probus stamp on the caliber. The inner cover is nicely decorated with
    something like medals, not uncommon for that time, but still nice.

    Love these old scripts

  • Master
    30 Mar 2020, 6:44 p.m.

    As Tonny correctly writes, the Cal. 57 stayed in production for many years,
    and are not particularly rare / hard to find.

    However, I have one in my Collection, that is failrly rare given that it is in
    a nickel case (as opposed to the majority of these that were cased in .900
    German Silver or 14k Gold) .

    This particulare watch caught my eye, and came in looking like this....

    ....and came out of the restoration project looking like it left the
    Manufactory yesterday.

    You can read more about that restoration project here :

    A Calibre 57 that
    was saved
    ..

    However, in order to stay more in line with Tonny's very classic lines Gold
    Cal.57, I share here today on day ten with you a watch that recently came into
    my collection and has as not yet been serviced by my watchmaker.

    The Watch

    Unfortunately not in an original IWC box, but certainly a box dating back to
    date of sale.

    The watch dial is actually pretty clean and free of hairline cracks - but the
    glass is very dirty on the inside and will need to be thourly cleaned.

    The inner lid has the same medalions that Tonny writes about.....

    However to prove Tonny's point, note that my watch is younger than his JWC
    stamped timepiece, and as can be seen here below the watch

    bears the newer Probus Scafusia rondel.

    This watch has a movement manufactured in 1911 and left the manufactury in
    1914.

    A very nice timepiece and a baby brother to Tonny's magnificent example.

  • Master
    30 Mar 2020, 7:44 p.m.

    Lovely Watch
    Tonny

    I have a watch dating 1895 that has similar medallions. I believe them to be
    horological awards to some competition.

  • Master
    30 Mar 2020, 7:57 p.m.

    One of mine got an award too. Lovely PW Tonny.

  • Master
    30 Mar 2020, 9:45 p.m.

    Some fascinating contributions today.

  • Master
    30 Mar 2020, 9:52 p.m.

    Bill, from what year does your watch date?

    its intresting to see that IWC utilizes the 1906 Milan Grand Prix (was that an
    actual event .... or pure marketing ? ) as case decoration still 8 years later
    in my case.

  • Master
    30 Mar 2020, 10:39 p.m.

    Mark. It's a c 53 from 1917.

  • Master
    31 Mar 2020, 1:21 p.m.

    Hi Mark,

    The often seen ' series of medals from 1906' on one of the covers referred to
    the World Exhibition of 1906 in Milan.

    Respected Swiss watch manufacturers sent in their watches for a competion. A
    jury looked to quality, innovation, execution of movement and case and awarded
    the winning brands with prizes : bronze, silver and gold medals. Even long
    after the Exhibition it was used as an advertising tool..

    Regards,

    Adrian,

    (alwaysiwc)

  • Master
    31 Mar 2020, 1:53 p.m.

    This
    is calibre 57 in parts as depicted in 'Catalogue Des Fournitures' No. 7. This
    catalogue was offered to watchmakers, who could order a specific part for
    repair.

    I counted that cal. 57 had 42 parts, not counting the main plates, crown and
    dial and hands.

    Regards,

    Adrian.

  • Master
    31 Mar 2020, 10:44 p.m.

    It actually existed! Now many of my watches suddenly became more significant-
    also on the inside.

    Thanks for sharing the knowledge Adrian.