12 Discussions and CommentsMember since Aug. 13, 2010Manchester,
United Kingdomwww.abersoch.co.uk
Over dinner yesterday whilst listening with interest to one of my ailing fathers (75yrs old) stories which seem to have become more frequent with the onset of his Parkinsons, he recalled his Great Uncle's story of how he came by a pocket watch during trench warfare in World War I, I'm sure the readers imagination might theorize how one soldier may have come by such an object from another.
I asked if it were still in his possession, to which he produced the most exquisite timepiece I have ever seen (including the careful perusal of this site) to which end, we decided to attempt a traceability exercise.
Unfortunately I did not have my camera in hand however, we managed to find the following numbers;
31457
0669
680678
I know little of watches other than what I like and wear (today my Breitling Emergency Mission) however, I'd describe it as a gentleman's pocket watch, by the main in silver, inlaid with gold, an ivory face with a smaller 24 hour sweep within the main face. It's condition is, in my opinion extremely good, although the print on the face is somewhat faded and difficult to read without assistance.
We would be most interested to hear how we might trace the watch, possibly it's previous / last owner and perhaps, given my fathers current state, return it should we feel assured of its lineage.
Your comments would be most gratefully received.
Thank you,
Graeme
Buy it, use it, enjoy it, sell it and buy something else.
1,017 Discussions and CommentsMember since July 16, 2001Singapore,
Singapore
Graeme
If you can find what is called the case number stamped into back lid, then IWC should be able to trace in its records to whom the watch was first sold - which will, however, most likely have been a retailer rather than an end customer.
I assume that you found the "31457" number on the movement, likely preceded by a Swiss cross. If this be the case, then the number 31457 is a patent number refering to the (patented) kind of revolution limiter of the main spring barrel. It does not help much in identifying the movement or watch.
The number 0669 is not likely to be a number used by IWC - it could be the case number if the case was made not by IWC but by someone else. It was not unusual for IWC movements to be encased elsewhere (usually due to customs dues on import of assembled and cased watches).
As for the six digit number, it would help if you could enlighten us as to whether this was a number stamped on the case or the movement. In either case it would be a serial number. If the case number, it would have been recorded in IWC's records as mentioned above and could identify the first buyer (retailer). If it is the movement serial number, then we can identify the watch calibre, i.e. the type of movement and when it was made.
To demonstrate, from records published by IWC, we can surmise that a case numbered 680678 would have been produced or delivered around 1917. A movement numbered 680678 can be identified as a calibre 66 of 19 lignes diameter and a height H5 made in 1917. This calibre was a slim finger bridge movement in the Savonette form, i.e. with the crown at 3 (rather than at 12 for a Lepine movement). It should look like the movement on the right in this spare parts catalogue:
IWC will have recorded the case number and may still have records of the movement number encased in the recorded case but will have no records of what dial or hands were fitted at the time, many different were in use in those times.
Hope this helps a little and sets you on the right track.
12 Discussions and CommentsMember since Aug. 13, 2010Manchester,
United Kingdomwww.abersoch.co.uk
Hi Dirk,
As it happens, it was my fathers 75th birthday over the weekend. We gathered to celebrate the same during which we once again discussed his watch. With my camera in hand I took a few photos which I would like to post here however, despite a good search on the forum, I can not see any instruction on how to post a picture, any assistance in this regard would be gratefully received.
In the meantime, you yourself passed your regards to my father as we viewed your post together.
Buy it, use it, enjoy it, sell it and buy something else.
Copy the address of the image (it will probably end in jpg)
To display it here click on the image icon, the one with the green hills and moonphase and you will see the following, but with square brackets rather than round
(img)(/img)
Insert the address of the image between the centre brackets like:
I asked if it were still in his possession, to which he produced the most exquisite timepiece I have ever seen (including the careful perusal of this site) to which end, we decided to attempt a traceability exercise.
Unfortunately I did not have my camera in hand however, we managed to find the following numbers;
31457
0669
680678
I know little of watches other than what I like and wear (today my Breitling Emergency Mission) however, I'd describe it as a gentleman's pocket watch, by the main in silver, inlaid with gold, an ivory face with a smaller 24 hour sweep within the main face. It's condition is, in my opinion extremely good, although the print on the face is somewhat faded and difficult to read without assistance.
We would be most interested to hear how we might trace the watch, possibly it's previous / last owner and perhaps, given my fathers current state, return it should we feel assured of its lineage.
Your comments would be most gratefully received.
Thank you,
Graeme
Buy it, use it, enjoy it, sell it and buy something else.
Last edited: 13 August, 2010 - 01:45
If you can find what is called the case number stamped into back lid, then IWC should be able to trace in its records to whom the watch was first sold - which will, however, most likely have been a retailer rather than an end customer.
I assume that you found the "31457" number on the movement, likely preceded by a Swiss cross. If this be the case, then the number 31457 is a patent number refering to the (patented) kind of revolution limiter of the main spring barrel. It does not help much in identifying the movement or watch.
The number 0669 is not likely to be a number used by IWC - it could be the case number if the case was made not by IWC but by someone else. It was not unusual for IWC movements to be encased elsewhere (usually due to customs dues on import of assembled and cased watches).
As for the six digit number, it would help if you could enlighten us as to whether this was a number stamped on the case or the movement. In either case it would be a serial number. If the case number, it would have been recorded in IWC's records as mentioned above and could identify the first buyer (retailer). If it is the movement serial number, then we can identify the watch calibre, i.e. the type of movement and when it was made.
To demonstrate, from records published by IWC, we can surmise that a case numbered 680678 would have been produced or delivered around 1917. A movement numbered 680678 can be identified as a calibre 66 of 19 lignes diameter and a height H5 made in 1917. This calibre was a slim finger bridge movement in the Savonette form, i.e. with the crown at 3 (rather than at 12 for a Lepine movement). It should look like the movement on the right in this spare parts catalogue:
IWC will have recorded the case number and may still have records of the movement number encased in the recorded case but will have no records of what dial or hands were fitted at the time, many different were in use in those times.
Hope this helps a little and sets you on the right track.
Dirk
Fantastic, how very kind of you to assist us with such in-depth detail.
We will proceed with our investigations and should we be able to find additional interesting facts, we will revert via the forum.
My father has asked me to give you his personal thanks - thank you.
Buy it, use it, enjoy it, sell it and buy something else.
Dirk
As it happens, it was my fathers 75th birthday over the weekend. We gathered to celebrate the same during which we once again discussed his watch. With my camera in hand I took a few photos which I would like to post here however, despite a good search on the forum, I can not see any instruction on how to post a picture, any assistance in this regard would be gratefully received.
In the meantime, you yourself passed your regards to my father as we viewed your post together.
Buy it, use it, enjoy it, sell it and buy something else.
http://www.iwcforum.com/PostImages.html
Copy the address of the image (it will probably end in jpg)
To display it here click on the image icon, the one with the green hills and moonphase
and you will see the following, but with square brackets rather than round
(img)(/img)
Insert the address of the image between the centre brackets like:
(img)http://www.gregsteer.net/IWC/I_Images/LCH_1949_p049_IWC.jpg(/img)
Click on the screen with the magnifying glass icon
to preview it and post the reply when you are satisfied.
If you still have problems feel free to email me: cellar@gregsteer.net
Cheers from the cellar
cellar@gregsteer.net
Last edited: 4 January, 2013 - 22:35
Hi Cellar - well the proof is in the pudding - many thanks.........you learn something new every day.
Buy it, use it, enjoy it, sell it and buy something else.
I'm not the best with a camera however, I hope this tells a story.
Buy it, use it, enjoy it, sell it and buy something else.
Buy it, use it, enjoy it, sell it and buy something else.
Buy it, use it, enjoy it, sell it and buy something else.