VIRTUAL POCKET WATCH MUSEUM DAY 75, cal 95, ref 210

So yesterday after Tonny posted the Cal. 97 BNB timepiece, I complimented his
watch with a Cal. 97 Frackuhr from my collection which had not been restored
for the simple reason that shortly after I aquired it, I came across another
Frackuhr in exactly the same case and in much better condition overall. It
did have a slightly different dial - but for the rest was advertised as a
Cal. 97 Dress Watch.

I showed a single picture of this watch yesterday.

Today, Tonny posts a magnificent Frackuhr (dress watch) in Cal. 95

The Watch

Well as I said yesterday, I was really happy to receive the 2nd Frackuhr, and
indeed it was as you see below, in really good condition.

Just a little bit of patina developing on the dial, however, that is
completely acceptable for a pocket watch dating from 1967.

The movement is pretty clean too. Fully dressed up and finished with Cote de
Geneva

But then, once I started to compare the first C.97 I posted yesterday with
this C.97 I had acquired - I started to compare side by side.

Want to Play - Spot the Difference

Taken a good look - same calibre and movement right?

Well, the movement on the left is the Cal. 97 (from yesterday's pocket watch)
and bears in the middle centre the Probus Scafusia stamp. The movement on the
right hand side frm todays post, does NOT have the Probus Scafusia stamp.

But other than that, there are other differences. So, for instance the watch
on the left (C.97) has a very eloquent Swan Neck regulation mechanism, whereas
the movement on the right does not.

But there is one other small but very significant difference to spot. Note the
centre jewel mechanism on the balance cock on the movement on the right. It
has a ruby coloured jewel there and some sort of retaining clip.

So, what gives here?

Here is the answer - hidden away on the movement just near the balance wheel
are 3 digits preceded by the letter C.

It's a Calibre 952

And as you see on the enlarged image of the balance wheel and cock above -
that little ruby coloured jewel is in fact the heart of an anti-shock
incabloc mechanism.

And there you have it folks, while the cases are exactly the same on both
watches - the movements are totally different in nature (but not design).

The C.97 with Swan Neck regulation dating from 1956 and the C.952 without Swan
Neck regulation but with incabloc anti-shock protection, dating from 1967.

I'm happy - only need to still decide what to do with that Cal. 97 of
yesterday which has a dial in need of restoration.

What strikes me when I look at those movements, which are at least half a
century old is that the movements nearly always look untouched and pristine.

This probably means that they needed hardly any adjustment or service. Another
proof of the high quality. Really Probus Scafusia.

Adrian,

(alwaysiwc).

Amazing history lesson

And of course restore the other watch, or pass it on to me :o)

Beautiful pocket watches, Gentlemen. I am also keen on a Cal 95 on the
wrist.

Ralph, what a handsome caseback view there.

I bet that the car manufacturers would envy and love to be able to replicate
that solid design philosophy in their engines.

what we see here is the evolution of the 1928 C.95 -> C.952 -> a modern
C.95292 movement. Same basic solid "engine" design with performance (incabloc
anti-shock) and efficiency (synthetic jewels) improvements still doing a
sterling job, some 90 plus years later!

Please post an image of the dial side.

As requested: The Dark Side.

The pocket watches: stunning, in this case, the wristwatch: mindblowing Ralph!

Regards, Bob

Outstanding Ralph :o)

Thanks for showing this beauty that I so enjoyed seeing in London in 2015