Well, we do not really want to fall into repition here, and I guess you all
have had enough fun with William Tell (in both his forms) as well as these
"heavy show piece" pocket watches that we see in the Schutzenuhr's.
So today, instead of staying with the theme of Schutzenuhr (we can do more of
that later - but let's not get too boring for now), I'll pick up on the
difference in style and case design - jumping ahead just a mere 18 years to
the mid 1920's - 1925, to be exact and the sheer elegance of the art deco
period (1920 - 1939. When these types of shapes and lines became popular.
The Watch
Many of you who know me, or who have been reading these virtual museum posts
know and hopefully understand too, my passion for restoring these sometime
almost lost timepieces, to their former glory. I, alongside my local
watchmaker Jeroen and as and where relevant together with those Wizzards of
Schaffhuasen take great pride in bringing these former beauties back not only
to life (a life of ticking) - but also to a level of magnificience of what
they were they day they left the manufactury some multiple tens if not hundred
years ago.
However, sometimes a timepiece comes along, that is so appealing in its looks
and where the patina developed of the course of decades has added so much
character to the watch, that I decide to not totally restore the watch -
rather, simply having the movement totally stripped down, cleaned and rebuilt.
Just the right amount (and kind) of oils reaplied to the serviced movement,
and replacing (if not original) the mineral glass over the dial, with vintage
glass.
One day, whilst on a business trip to Prague I arrived early for a lunch
meeting downtown in the old city centre, and decided to take a walk around the
block to get some fresh air before the meeting. Walking past the quaint
building and modern storefronts, I happened upon a small, ancient looking
store which clearly housed a watch and clockmakers business. Looking into the
large store window - I noticed a shelf with a couple of pocket watches on it.
One in particular, caught my eye as it boar the International Watch Co.
logo and had some neat lines.
The case back, pure art deco.... not even a cartouche for engraving.
The seller, an old watchmaker knew what he had - and clearly, this was not
going to be a quick sale. I reserved the watch, went to my meeting and that
night returned to the store to negotiate the deal. Once he realised I had the
passion, he showed me some other IWC watches he had in his collection, and
after some discussion we agreed a very reasonable price on this watch.
The movement a Cal. 73 (serial number removed to protect the innocent) seen
here below prior to service, has been completely stripped down and serviced.
This watch cleaned up very nicely. See the pictures below.
The resulting finish together with the 95 years of patina is magnificent and
one really has to get up close and examine the watch to see the detail and
appreciate the asthetics.
In the correct light - the art deco style blue steel hands simply pop!
The lines on the case back run true - and just look at the absolutely amazing
art deco detailing on the case edge!
Note the triangular bow, which could be an overlay onto that art deco poster.
All in all a very good example of Probus Scafusia - and a watch that takes
it's place in my collection proudly.
