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VIRTUAL POCKET WATCH MUSEUM DAY 22, CAL 77 International

  • forum 4 replies
  • last reply by 8541 13 Apr 2020
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    Moderator
    12 Apr 2020, 5:10 p.m.
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    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 22 :

    To continue with the number 77, today my second cal 77.

    Different about this one compared to yesterday , is the case. The case is a
    Cresarrow case , here in 14K gold.

    Also the caliber is different, yesterday the caliber was a 21 jewels one,
    today onlu 19 jewels.

    Special about the watch today is also the fact that on the dial only
    "International" is written and not the full name as we usually see.

    Some cal 77 didn't have any reference to IWC, I saw some with Tiffany&Co on
    the dial too.

    I like the style of the case and dial. The case is finished with two black
    rims, looks like onyx but is most probalby some resin.

    The dial is in silver brushed metal and has some patina on it. ( nicer word
    for rust )

    Yesterday the name Henry Blank was mentioned, here is an article by a forum
    member Greg Steer about the company Cresarrow :

    www.gregsteer.net/IWC/Cresarrow/Henry%20Blank%20and%20Cresarrow.html

    t

    The Cresarrow sign inside the cover.

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    Master
    12 Apr 2020, 5:10 p.m.
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    These Cal. 77 cased in the Cresarrow cases are immaculate pieces of fine art -
    haute horologe to the highest level.

    Now, whilst Tonny's C.77 here is cased as a pocket watch, the watch I which to
    share with you is one of the dizygotic twins in my collection. A sister to
    watch I posted yesterday as seen here.

    Now, if we look at the case sides of both watches we see that Tonny's watch
    (here on the top in the collage) bears one and the exact same gold floral leaf
    decoration.

    Interesting enough, when studying the case, for remanufacture, we discovered
    that this decoration was NOT STAMPED, rather each and every lead is
    individualy crafted. It would be intresting to know, if this was the work of a
    single goldsmith at the Cresarrow manufacturing plant, or of a team who worked
    to a given design.

    The Watch - a Ladies Pendant Watch

    Designed to be worn on a chain around the ladies neck, with two substantial
    differences to the pocket watches.

    • The Crown is moved from standard lepine (open face) position of 12 o'clock, to the 6 position. Note the blue saphire crown stone.
    • The small seconds hand normally sitting above the 6 index, is removed.

    Housing a Calibre 77 - 19 jewels adjusted to 6 positions with swan neck
    regulation.

    The movement was manufactured in Schaffhausen in 1920.

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    Master
    12 Apr 2020, 10:40 p.m.
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    I have one cal. 77 in my small collection and it is a very simple example. In
    fact, it doesn't have
    IWC anywhere on it. And no mention of jewels or adjustments. The only words on
    the movement are "MADE IN SWITZERLAND
    FOR TIFFANY & Co."

    And there is a peculiar "0" in the corner of one of the plates:

    The case and dial (likely not original - Mark Levinson would love to see it
    replaced) also very simple:

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    Connoisseur
    13 Apr 2020, 7:28 a.m.
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    Hi Mark,

    I don't think there are any changes made to the movement. It is simply mounted
    upside down in the case resulting in the crown being at the 6 o'clock
    position. The dial has been mounted in the "normal" position so 180 degrees
    turned against the movement. That resulted in the need to show no seconds,
    because the second pinion would be at 12 o'clock.

    Regards

    Thomas

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    Master
    13 Apr 2020, 10:21 a.m.
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    Well, there are always other options Ben.