2 Discussions and CommentsMember since April 15, 2006
Sir, I have located a number of IWC watches from an apparently reputable seller who states that older calibre watches such as the 53 have been converted to fit into a wristwatch body at some point in their lives. Should I be cautious about such claims or is this a known area of workmanship and did IWC ever convert such calibres? The serial number is 561338 and also signed +31457 on the movement. This particular example is movement Sav. C. 53 - 19 lig. H 6. Thanks for any help you can give. The following links are of photographs of this watch. http://www.potop.kiev.ua/EBAY/fon/iwc128-02.jpg http://www.potop.kiev.ua/EBAY/fon/iwc128-17.jpg http://www.potop.kiev.ua/EBAY/fon/iwc128-31z.jpg
2,084 Discussions and CommentsMember since Jan. 7, 2005
HI stephencalder and welcome to the forum.
I don't know what's left of IWC in that watch, since the dial also looks badly restamped, in any case it's a marriage, not a collectable watch in any case.
IWC never converted its pocket watches such as Cal. 53 to wristwatch bodies. It did use its small (Cal. 64/5) pocket watch movements for its wristwatches, one Cal. 52 model was modified by IWC for its original Big Pilots Watch, etc. Around 600 original Portuguese wristwatches used pocket watch movements.
But these are less than 1/10th of 1% of total production, and not conversions. Conversions are done by outside watchmakers looking to make a quick buck on unsuspecting buyers.
2,283 Discussions and CommentsMember since Aug. 2, 2001
Your "apparently reputable seller" apparently is not very reputable.
These "marriages" have flooded auction sites for years. Given that they improperly use IWC's name and logo on dials and products that were never made by IWC, they are nothing more than outright frauds.
2,691 Discussions and CommentsMember since Sept. 20, 2007
In short Steven - you are well advised to stay away. That watch has very little value, other than serving as spare parts for a genuine IWC pocket watch repair.
The following links are of photographs of this watch.
http://www.potop.kiev.ua/EBAY/fon/iwc128-02.jpg
http://www.potop.kiev.ua/EBAY/fon/iwc128-17.jpg
http://www.potop.kiev.ua/EBAY/fon/iwc128-31z.jpg
Last edited: 30 January, 2013 - 18:37
I don't know what's left of IWC in that watch, since the dial also looks badly restamped, in any case it's a marriage, not a collectable watch in any case.
Regards,
roberto
Regards,
Roberto
Last edited: 12 June, 2013 - 11:03
But these are less than 1/10th of 1% of total production, and not conversions. Conversions are done by outside watchmakers looking to make a quick buck on unsuspecting buyers.
Regards, Michael
mfriedberg@iwcforum.com
Last edited: 5 April, 2012 - 19:53
These "marriages" have flooded auction sites for years. Given that they improperly use IWC's name and logo on dials and products that were never made by IWC, they are nothing more than outright frauds.
Dick L.
whichwatch at roadrunner dot com
Best regards
Mark
Last edited: 16 April, 2013 - 00:36
Last edited: 30 January, 2013 - 18:37