VIRTUAL POCKET WATCH MUSEUM DAY 97, Jones number 933, pattern H

Indeed Tonny, the story behind these two watches is a sound reminder of how
friendships and comarade have developed over the years here on the forum.

In fact, as I have said before - collecting IWC watches (be it pocket watches,
vintage watches, or the modern contempoary timepieces), is for me and so many
of us, simply the catalyst to so much more interaction and like you I have
over the years made trully great friends with so many people here. It is these
friendships which I so treasure and which bring so much more than just pocket
watch collecting to the table.

Both watches you share today are trully magnificent.

The Watch

The watch which I shall share today is one I have been holding back on - and
waiting for the right day / post, to add it as a complimentary post to your
post of the day.

However, yesterday suddenly and without and warning, the Forum Moderator
unilaterly declared, quote " And this ends the series of cal 73 Art Deco
watches . " ... and I was bowled over! I thefore imeadiately (at the risk
of bringing down the wratch of the moderator on my head, responded that I
reserved the right to still post here a Cal. 73.

Having said that, I have aware of the both the size of the man, as well as the
power of the moderators "delete button" and have though carefully over the
last 24 hours, if I should actually proceed to post a Cal. 73 today. It's
quiet a daunting thought though that I might have to deal with an angry
Belgium fellow. So instead of taking the risk, I shall rather post ....

I saw the Cal. 65 listed in the green circle above, and thought my collection
could do with another art deco watch (they are as Tonny showed yesterday again
- always quiet beautiful in appearance).

However, I was a little perturbed by the less that 100% score of the seller.
But many were watching the watch, and there were quite a lot of bidders. In
for a penny - in for a pound!

I made sure I won the auction!

the magnificent Art Deco case, speaks for itself. Just look at the beautiful
lines and design of that crown neck and bow ! If this is not pure eye candy to
Mark F and others, then what is?

The patina on the dial is spot on for a watch dating from 1927 - and this
dial, I will leave totally untouched. It's much more pleasing on the eye too,
in the hand.

The case edge is decorated nicely too.

So finally when the watch arrived, I was excited to open it up and check the
serial numbers of this Cal. 65.

And what do we see? Say what? What does it say in that red box here below?

And when I compare this movement here below on the left (remember it's meant
to be a Cal. 65) to Tonny's berautiful Cal. 73 here below on the right - what
then?

Well, my baby sister always says... "if it looks like a duck... and if it
qwacks like a duck, it probably is a DUCK!

So folks, I 'm good with Tonny - no more Cal. 73's - just a Cal. 65DUCK that
I share with you today.

And as a last bit of info...... she is of German 0.900 Silber and bears the
Probus Scafusia logo proudly.

But why did the seller think he had a Cal. 65?

I think that tomorrow I may just show a little bit of the golden goose and
show a true Cal. 65 and no Cal.65DUCK.

As we are moving towards the end of the series once again about finding a
'Jones, the IWC arche-type pocket watch.

We have seen two extremes :today a holy grail from Tonny an early hunter
pattern 'H' in immaculate condition.

And yesterday a twisted Jones from Mark in a terrible condition, restored to
an ultimate beauty. Both ways of collecting are attractive. Buying a Jones in
top condition is not cheap. Buying a wreck on which everything has to be
repaired and restored is cheap but the misery may start once the job has
started, without knowing the end. And in the end, the price of both watches
maybe the same, But often the hours of work do not pay off in the market
value. However, for a hard core collector the market value may not be the most
important factor. Few perfect Jones have survived Alan Myers estimates about
3 %. In most cases Jones are showing up like this
:These
incredible trays with Jones only were coming from the drawer of an aged
watchmaker in the US. The whole bunch was bought by by a German gentleman, who
was not an IWC collector. He on turn offered the collection of movements,
dials etc. to a high ranking IWC officer in Schaffhausen. Thereafter this man
asked the IWC collector community who of them would be interested and it was
clear that never one person would take them all. Finally the collection was
divided between 3 pocket watch collectors. Only the movements in average or
good condition were restored over the past 4 years. Each of them have a story
of revival in a way only Mark Levinsohn is able to tell. The hardest part is
finding correct fitting American made, engine turned watch cases. Even more
difficult is finding a watchmaker who is able to make a wheel, balance staff
or winding stem from scratch. But the result is rewarding : each time a
hundredandfifty years old piece of history is re-born providing a feeling of
satisfaction to the collector and the restorer.

Regards,

Adrian,

(alwaysiwc)

I won't sleep all night ... I'll be dreaming of all those restoration projects
that Adrian shows!

Adrian, is of course correct in that each Collector decides his own form and
fashion of collecting style. For me, it's about the journey.

Oh Tonny - that Jones watch is magnificent! The movement is spectacular but
with that rose gold case - oh my! What a find - I hope to be so lucky one
day;)

Tonny, amazing story about finding these early, very low numbered, versions
(and comradship)!

Mark, love that style of PW!

Adrian, thanks for contributing again and showing that fantatsic picture of
Jones'!

Regards, Bob

Beautiful and rare Jones! Thank you for showing Tonny - I am sad this journey
through the Virtual Museum is coming to an end.

Adrian, thank you for revealing the tray of wonders!

MarkL - I truly love the Art Deco piece you showed! The decoration is
astounding and patina built up over 93 years is spot on!