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VIRTUAL POCKET WATCH MUSEUM DAY 31, cal 73, 3D dial

  • forum 8 replies
  • last reply by Ben 28 Apr 2020
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    Moderator
    21 Apr 2020, 4:21 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 30, cal 73, 3D dial.

    As stated before, I love the cal 73, not only because of the movement, but
    also because they often come is amazing cases, really pieces of art.

    In an earlier post in these series, there was an octagonal case shown,
    followed by a case with 12 corners , you can read it
    here

    Today the watch is special not alone for its beautiful movement or special
    hand engraved case, but also because of the dial.

    I know there are some watches with guiloche dials ( engine turned dials ), I
    know of a few in ladies pocketwatches too ( will be shown in a later post ),
    but this dial is a kind of 3D dial, very special.

    The watch has a 14K case and is from 1929

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    Master
    21 Apr 2020, 4:24 p.m.
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    This post dedicated today to Sophy Rindler - hope it cheers her up a little
    bit.

    What a truly magnificent piece of art; or should I say Haute Horologe?

    Indeed the Lepine Cal. 73 and it's sister Savonette Cal.74 are truly shining
    examples of Probus Scafusia and like Tonny, I appreciate these slim movement
    too, especially for some of the beautiful and elaborate cases we find these
    movements in.

    Tonny writes " I know there are some watches with guiloche dials ( engine
    turned dials ) ..." and while not common we do find some very nice examples of
    those guiloche dials.

    Like this 4k gold cased Calibre 52 in my Collection.

    Thes guiloche dials are really special and as Tonny indicates we also see/find
    them at times on the ladies pocket watches (but that is a post for another
    day).

    The Watch

    The watch I choose today, to compliment Tonnys Cal. 73 with its very rare dial
    is one that we do not see often either and certainly rates amongst the most
    beautiful pieces of art/haute horologe in my Colletion. And as was the case
    yesterday where Tonny posted a lepine version of the movement and I a
    savonette version, today I do the same again. Here is a magnificent in it's
    classic clear lines case of the period, a Savonette Cal.74

    And a zoom in on the crown and bow show exactly what Tonny writes " special
    hand engraved case     ".

    The archives show that this watch shipped on the 25th of August 1930 to
    Neslein in Oslo. The case referenced as "Savonette Empire" was manufactured
    for IWC by Wyss in Biel, Switzerland,

    However, todays post is centric to beautiful and rare dials, and for this
    reason then I share this watch with yourselves - becuase behind that solid
    gold sheer pop up case cover of this full hunter lies a very special and rare
    dial too. Not 3D like Tonny's or a Guiloche dial like in the watch above, but
    rather a hand engraved multi dimensional dial.

    Further research into the dial shows that it was indeed a special order and
    this is noted in the sales ledger alongside the movement.

    David Seyffer notes that this was a very expensive option for those times and
    they charged CHF 25.- extra for this dial. Todate, it is not clear as to what
    exactly the abbreviation in the sales ledger of " zone nane " stands for /
    or means.

    The engraving detail on the dial is very intricate.

    And as one would expect the movement is pretty near to.

    All in all a very beautiful pocketwatch with I am sure you all agree,
    amazingly pretty dial.

    ps: Special thanks to Skule who was involved in the rescue mission of this
    timepiece, when it turned up in Norway about a half hour away from our
    resident Vikings abode.

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    Master
    21 Apr 2020, 4:48 p.m.
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    What a beauty. I wonder how these dials were made because the 3D printer had
    to be invented yet, back in 1929.

    Like crowns, hands and of course dials there were manufacturers who
    specialised in these watch parts. So, this work was outsourced.

    Regards,

    Adrian,

    (alwaysiwc).

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    Master
    21 Apr 2020, 9:20 p.m.
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    Mark,

    I believe that the description 'zone nane' for your watch mabe reads different
    :

    It could be ' zone nacre' or 'joue nacre'.

    Nacre in French means 'pink mother-of-pearl' but nacre is also used for soft
    pink colour in make-up powder.

    I do not see mother-of-pearl on the dial but a tender soft pink colour on the
    back ground, as is used in make up powder .

    Regards,

    Adrian.

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    Master
    21 Apr 2020, 9:23 p.m.
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    Adrian, A very logical explanation !

    You have probably hit the nail on the head again. David is going to be pleased
    - another archive mystery solved!

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    Master
    21 Apr 2020, 10:37 p.m.
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    absolutely gorgeous watches today Gents

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    Master
    22 Apr 2020, 8:03 a.m.
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    A fantastic initiative Tonny!

    I remember this very well Mark, talking to the very nice seller and meeting
    her in Asker (an Oslo suburb) to pick it up. When I saw it I did not really
    want to send it to you, it is just stunningly beautiful, but it truly belongs
    in your worthy collection - I am just happy I could be of assistance and make
    sure another fantastic IWC is taken care of for another lifetime!

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    Master
    27 Apr 2020, 8:37 p.m.
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    Congratulation for this exceptional piece. I have never seen such a dial
    before.

    Actually you can find many versions of "sophisticated" dials. The pitty is
    most of them are not original.

    Watches having a special dial indicated in the selling books are rare. They
    where quite accurate in noting them in the books.

    regards

    Ralph

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    Master
    28 Apr 2020, 2:28 a.m.
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    Really amazing dials. Mark, yours has such detail in that pattern - it
    almost reminds me of a banknote. And the cases are truly beautiful works of
    art!