• 13 May 2020, 5:12 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 53, cal 77, cresarrow case

    Today the third and last cal 77 in my collection.

    During this series of pocketwatches, sometimes the beauty was on the outside,
    a beautiful decorated case... sometimes beauty ws found only on the inside,
    the movement. But today I can show a combination of the two.

    A cal 77 masterpiece in a very nice case. Top this with a special dial and
    blued hands and you have a collectable watch.

    This one has a 18K godl case from Cresarrow, the US case maker.

    As written in a previous post, most tof the cal 77 watches were sold as
    movements to the US and there encased in Cresarrow cases, some of them very
    well decorated, sometimes in Greek themes.

    The one shown today has 21 jewels. The cal 77 came also in 15 jewels, 17 and
    19. There are interesting discussions on the forum regarding a 23 jewels cal
    77 too.

    This one is from 1920.

  • Master
    13 May 2020, 5:17 p.m.

    It's long been discussed - but certainly amongst collectors there is a fairly
    unanimous agreement that as Tonny writes, that the Calibre 77 is amongst the
    most aesthetically appealing movements in the IWC stable.

    Now, I am sure, that Watch77 (the man to go to on these movments) is going to
    grace us with wonderful pictures and technical information on what is his
    favourite movement ; namely the Cal.77

    The Watch

    To compliment Tonny's Cal. 77 timepiece is also a Cresarrow cased Cal. 77 in
    my collection. It's a sibling to the Cal. 77 pendant watch, and is indeed a
    very much appreciated part of my collection. As Tonny writes, these watches
    have both inner and outer beauty.

    The bare movement was sold to Mr. Henry Blank of New Jersey, USA on the 14th
    of May 1920 making it exactly 100 years old tomorrow.

    The records in Schaffhausen reflect that it was sold without a dial, but as
    you will see further
    down, the movement was engraved International Watch Co. Swiss by
    Schaffhausen.

    However, where Tonny's case is engraved, this watch is inlayed with enamel.
    Black enamel over 18K gold.

    And Like Tonny's watch, the true beauty lies in the immaculate details. Take a
    look for example at the inlay on the crown neck. Keeping in mind it's all of
    4mm wide.

    The finishing on the Case edge is absolutely magnifect too, and one wonders
    how long it took the jwelers to engrave it.

    Where Tonny's Cal. 77 shows that it has 21 Jewels - this one has 19 jewels,
    and is adjusted to 6 positions (serial number removed to protect the
    innocent).

  • Master
    13 May 2020, 9:13 p.m.

    There is an ongoing debat about the 'nicest' IWC calibre between collectors
    and the highest ranked candidates are cal. 77 and cal.cal.71/72 (fishtail).

    Whatever ones taste is, the beauty of the 2 watches shown today is everywhere
    inside and outside.

    Regards,

    Adrian,

    (alwaysiwc).

  • Master
    14 May 2020, 3 a.m.

    I am left speachless by the beauty of the two watches shown here today!

    Two Master collectors indeed

  • Apprentice
    14 May 2020, 11:49 a.m.

    Stunning beauties. I am amazed about those watches. Who doesn't want to own a
    cal 77? Thank you for posting those superb pieces of art