• 17 Jun 2020, 5:23 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 88, Elgin I, cal 32, silver

    During our series here in the virtual museum, we saw some multiple posts on
    one type of movement. Sometimes because of different cases,

    sometimes because different types of evolution on the same calibre, as in the
    Jones.

    I made already some posts about the Elgin I, cal 32's in my collection. These
    come from the 1880's, are rare but by luck I found a few special ones.

    I makes it also possible to see some variations in the movement made over the
    years.

    So far all the cal 32's came in a gold case. The one today has a silver case.
    In origin with Niello, some is left, and with a kind of medaillon, like we saw
    on some other pocketwatches here.

    The medaiilon was maybe of gold, and was stripped for the gold value. All is
    left is the presence of a few holes in the case.

    Where the early cal 32 had very nice decorations on the movement, on the
    balance cock, this one is very plane. Was there no more demand for expensive
    pieces, or had IWC changed in strategy, trying to sell less expensive watches
    ? Were there two types of finish ? I don't know since I haven't seen other cal
    32 with serial numbers around 227XX.

    Here is the one for today, also compared with some other cal 32's.

  • Master
    17 Jun 2020, 5:25 p.m.

    Oldie! .. and so nice I am almost inclinded to say Golden Oldie. However I
    know that would bring a ton of discussion down on my head, as it is in fact a
    silver case.

    No denying how exquisite that case finishing is. One can only imagine the coat
    of arms and/or emblem or engraved letters that was sitting on the outside of
    that case - attached by pins through those 5 holes in the case lid (one of
    which has been soldered close.

    Nice wwatch Tonny - but as you say your self she is beautiful on the outside
    and just plain ugly (by manner of speach only - as beauty is in the eye of the
    beholder) on the inside.

    The Watch

    So the watch I chose to share with you today, to compliment Tonnys post is one
    that is exactly opposite to tht of Tonny's C.32.

    For a start she is ugly on the outside and pretty darn pretty on the inside.
    Where Tonny's watch is old - this Cal. 67 is relativly young.

    When I first saw this watch listed for sale on the internet, I quickly skipped
    her buy and browsed further. However, I kept thinking back all evening to what
    I had seen - and in particular - the nickel plated calibre 67 movement in
    the watch.

    These are the original photos and while clearly there is a lot of gunk and
    dirty all over the place, appart from the missing two case screws the movement
    looked both fully functional as well as fully nickel plated. She also
    carries the Probus Scafusia mark.

    And the more I looked at those nickel plated bridges and that high standard of
    finishing on the individual parts. For example just look at the chamfering
    (bevelling) on the edges of the bridges. Once cleaned they will shine light
    all over and into every curve and corner of the movement.

    The case, is stainles steel and again besides the 77 years of grime and dirt
    on her - seems to be in pretty scratch free. Her two burled case ridges
    perfect.

    So by now you are asking yourselves, whats with the "Beauty lies within"- so
    where is the ugly?

    Well, as I said 77 years of dirt and grime (as this watch which is actually a
    Ref.140, was sold on the 7th of September 1943 to Emmanuel Block), had seen it
    develop quiet a patina on the dial and hands.

    To some this is so very ugly....

    But somewhere under that grime and dirt, lies not only an outside "railway
    track"minute marker ring - but also gold apliques as well as two / dual gold
    bands surounding those gold arabic numerals.

    If you look at the crown of the watch, you will see how sharp and unworn the
    burling on it is too. This watch spent a long time lying in a draw unused -
    somehere in a humid place,

    She is of today still in that exact same condition. some say that when we get
    her to the workbench, we should not touch the dial leaving the partina in
    place. Others. say to replace or fully restore the dial.

    What say thee Adrian?

    What say you others?

    Either way, it wont be today - as today is Day #3 of the Virtual Museum Rust
    Bucket restoration project - so watch this space later if you care.

  • Master
    18 Jun 2020, 5:05 a.m.

    Fair comment and challenge MarkL

    Well - there is patina and there is damage!

    I say clean/polish the hands and restore the dial. If the dial is Enamel, it
    should clean up nicely!

  • Graduate
    18 Jun 2020, 10:49 a.m.

    I am very sure you are refering to a different Adrian, as I dont have a single
    clue about pocket watches.

    But I would leave the watch exactly the way it is. Its beautiful from the
    inside and working. The patina and pattern on the dial is somehow very
    beaufiful in its own way and tells a little story. If it does not do any
    damage (to the watch and your eyes), leave it as it is. It aged very well,
    Mark, just like you ;-)

  • Master
    18 Jun 2020, 11:28 a.m.

    I'd try a modest cleaning as Mark F suggested too. If possible. No
    replacement, just cleaning.

  • Master
    18 Jun 2020, 12:17 p.m.

    I would love to see it with a cleaned dial!

    Kind regards,

    Clemens

  • Master
    18 Jun 2020, 12:26 p.m.

    Clean dial for me too! I'm like you Mark, and like it in condition as when it
    left the factory (though 'some' patina can be attactive of course).

    Regards, Bob

  • Master
    18 Jun 2020, 1:51 p.m.

    I would endorse a gentle cleaning.

  • Master
    18 Jun 2020, 2:03 p.m.

    Plus one.

    Adrian,

    (alwaysiwc).

  • Connoisseur
    18 Jun 2020, 2:35 p.m.

    I would go for a clean dial...too much patina for my taste.

    Maybe a NOS dial is somewhere in a drawer?

    Greetings

  • Insider
    18 Jun 2020, 2:50 p.m.

    I'm not a pocket watch guy but if it were mine I would go for a gentle
    cleaning. Get rid of the dirt and grime but let that patina "shine".

  • Master
    18 Jun 2020, 4:42 p.m.

    I think the watch needs to be sympathetically restored. Good luck.

  • Master
    18 Jun 2020, 8:15 p.m.

    I am a little torn, Mark, I do appreciate the dial the way it is. But I have
    to say I think that watch really would look absolutely fantastic with the dial
    cleaned up.