What is the first watch given a reference number ?

Inspired by another thread on a beautiful PW which was given the ref nr 212, i wonder when did IWC start using reference numbers for any watch, which was the first one, and was the number 001, or 100, or 101 ??
Thanks for your help.

I think the early numbering of the various watches is now not really understandable.

Initially (early pricelistes) you bought a movement in a case made of
Sterling silver, 14k Gold or 18k gold with a given weight.
You had the possibility to buy some addons , Jewel on center wheel, glassed movement etc.

It is possible they started with 3 digit numbers.
Ref 135 is a quite well known PW late 1930's
There was a ref 431 a special wristwatch approx the same time.
Also ref 325 is approx from the same period.

I think there where initially number ranges for the various types of watches.
Initially the numbers where probably in a sequence there where given.
But ther wher also 4 digit numbers for decorativ watches, more ore less a mess.
Then they started to give 3 digit numbers based on the movement used.

Then in the 60's a 4 digit ref based on the movement used was used, but also 9xxx for heavy gold watches.

But this is really just a first Idea.

References are not really clear.

There are many ref numbers collectios:

One you find here

regards

Ralph

Thank you Ralph , i hope more members can help to fill in a sequence of ref numbers.

So the lowest number we have now is the ref 212 PW Ralph mentioned in his post. Does someone know of any ref numbers lower ?
Strange these are not mentioned or listed , i know you all like the movement numbers sequences, the earlier the better !!

The Ref. 135 is a c.67 Open face pocket watch also used for military customers. (see also small German KM watch with metal dial here a really old post on it... or a newer one

Hi klonk,

I think the reason that you find this lack of data as strange is that you may be superimposing modern labeling concepts on old watches.

Originally, IWC watches had movement and case numbers, but no reference numbers. See for example the 1914 catalog which simply categorized the watches by movement type, despite many variations:
www.iwcforum.com/Catalogs/1914/start.html

Later on, IWC catalogs simply gave watches numbers, which as far as I can tell are not "reference" numbers as we know the term today. See the 1941-2 catalogs:
www.iwcforum.com/Catalogs/1941-42Blue/start.html
www.iwcforum.com/Catalogs/1941-42Grey/start.html

To look for the earliest reference number unfortunately may be a mistaken search, not to be confused with the lowest number or the first-used number.

Thank you again Ralph, and thank you Michael for this information. Maybe a quest with no answer, but i am still curious. Not so much maybe for the earliest one used, but at some point there was a change from numbers, like in the catalogue you posted, to something called reference numbers. With so many calibers and variatons in cases and dials it could be that registration by movement numbers wasnt adequate anymore ? The Original portuguese watch had reference 325 already in 1939 ? while catalogues from 1940 uses plain numbers for the PWs.
Any insight on if this was a company policy thats changed this, or for administration reason`s, or demands from ( military) clients ?

Even the Portuguese ref. 325 didn't use that reference number in 1939, nor have one. The case design number was engraved on early models. Please see this article: www.iwc.com/en/history-of-iwcs-portugieser-watches-ref-325/

The internal record books used listings by case serial number (not design) and movements and certain variations usually were noted for each item.

The lowest number that I know is the ref. 120 pocket watch savonette.

Thanks again Michael, that is a great article indeed. So case model nr 228 was used, but the reference number 325 was given at a later date ?
More proof there is no logical sequence is what i read in this thread :
www.iwc.com/forum/en/discussion/23975/

The special Pilots Watch was the first Pilots watch right ? 1936 .It was given ref 436 , while the B Uhr - from a later date 1940 - has ref number 431.
Just for the sake of the puzzle, i wonder why these ref nrs were introduced , just as case models at first? And second, IWC has always kept precise records of case nrs and movement nrs so it is a bit hard to believe these were just introduced without a reason. Could there not be some more information on when and why ref nrs were introduced in the records?.

Thanks Samuel, do you also have a year of production or sale ? and did you find this in a catalogue or another source ? Is it stamped in the case ( back)
maybe ?
I think there must have been a list of some sort to pick these numbers from. Maybe they started with just numbers as in the catalogue from 1941, they are great to see btw, where we have a number 46 listed.

And already it was possible to order it in Platinum casing !!

I have no ref. 120 in my collection, but a ref. 123 with case number 198xxxx from 1970 and the ref. is stamped in the case.

Some older wristwatch ref. 304, 324 with case number 112xxxx are not stamped in the case.