What my father has forgotten to tell me or I forgot to ask him.

About 15 years ago my father surrendered a pocket watch to me, which he had received also from his father. I put it to a safe place. There it fell into oblivion. It was so to speak lost. Recently I rediscovered the watch. I found out how to open the dial cover. Of course I want to have a view to the movement. But I was not able to open the cover. Unfortunately it is impossible now to ask my father how it works. Is there anyone who can give me a hint how to open the backside cover without damaging it?
Best regards to all members
Thomas

I am sorry I forgot important information necessary for the identification of the watch. At the inner side of the dial cover there are different seals. The upper one shows a crown surrounded by a circle. The following is a rectangle containing the number 0,585, I think the gold content. To the left and right of the rectangle there are two narrow unrecognizable seals. Then follows another circle containing the words and abbreviation PROBUS, IWC, SCAFUSIA. The last seal contains the number 621939.

Thomas,

You have inherited a beautiful timepiece and, as a watchmaker,forgive me if I offer you unsolicited practical advice.

Many, if not most, old pocket watches have two, and not one, hinged back covers. For an inexperienced person to pop up both covers without scratching the gold case would be a risk that one may regret. Even professional repairmen must take caution not to damage either or both the case and movement.

Therefore, to keep your IWC Pocket Watch in the condition it's in, I suggest you take it to an experienced watchmaker to pry open the two hinged snap backs and show you the internal mechanism. Tell him to cover the case back with clear plastic while using the bench knife opener. You should take photos of the movement and inside case covers showing the serial number of your timepiece.

Good luck!

Best regards,
Jack Freedman

Hello Jack,
I have been waiting for some days but now I followed your advice and went to a watchmaker. He took my pocket watch into his workshop and after less than 2 minutes he came back and surrendered it to me with opened back covers and without any scratches.
Thank you for your practical advice.

So far, so good, I still have a little problem. At home I looked for the serial number but unfortunately there are 3 different numbers. Which is the serial number of the movement? Can anybody help? Due to reflections and shadows it was not possible to take one photo with all numbers good recognisable. So I took one photo and added arrows with numbers pointing to the position of the number.

Best regards,
Thomas Behr

Hello Thomas,
There is a very convenient applet that you can find on the internet which is called "DateYourIWC";
if you use your case number 621939 and the movement number, which is 545684, you receive the following answer:

The movement is a Sav. calibre 53, dating from the year 1912.
The case was most probably produced resp. delivered around 1915.

Your pocket watch is more than 100 years old,and apparently in great condition.
Enjoy,
Zoltan

Hello Zoltan,
Thank you very much for the information concerning my watch. I am very pleased to have now more knowledge about it. It seems to be a really special one. I will treat it with care.
Best regards
Thomas Behr