My father bought this IWC watch around 1976-8 from a retailer who used to advertise RAF surplus watches in British national newspapers such as the Daily Mail and Sunday Express. The ad offered the watches with either a nylon fabric strap or (at extra cost) a steel expanding bracelet (Fixoflex). My father paid the extra and got the Fixoflex version.
He didn't wear the watch for long and I inherited it along with the Rolex Oyster that he had worn for more than 40 years before buying the IWC. But I had my own good quality watches and I didn't wear the IWC much either - only when sailing my boat, as it was easy to read, especially at night, it could stand a bit of a drenching and a lot of rough work, and it was an ideal navigator's timepiece.
I gave up yachting in the late '80s when I started a new business that took up all my available time, so the watch got lost in the back of my sock drawer.
About 5 years ago I found it again and gave it to my wife who was having difficulty seeing any of hers well enough to read them. I had the black leather strap fitted at that time as she didn't like the expanding metal bracelet. The watchmaker who fitted it told me the watch could be valuable, around £1000 maybe - I almost had second thoughts about giving it away!
Anyway, she has now had her eyes fixed so that she doesn't need a man's watch any more, and I have got it back. It is still working, though I have never had it serviced, but it won't run for a full 24 hours between windings.
Now I am considering having it serviced and restored so that I can give it to my nephew, but I don't want to shell out a lot of money if the watch turns out not to be as valuable as suspected.
This watch has (unusually?) no markings on the back (though I think the back might have been ground/polished). It has not been opened up since my father bought it 35 years ago, so I have not looked inside, however, it does look genuine to me, and obviously I know almost all of its history.
9 Discussions and CommentsMember since Sept. 7, 2010nottingham,
United Kingdom
Hi Patrick, i get all my watches services by a local watch repairer. He charges around £60-80. Finding good reputable repairers takes a little research. Never take to any 'watch centre'. The old guy with the 40 years of experience is normally the best route. Mine actually used to service the watches for the MOD among others like Rolex and Patek. And ask questions. Obviously IWC would prefer that you send back to base. But i guess that would be quite expensive. Interestingly i've recently added a thread regarding an IWC MK 11 of mine. Yours also seems to have the thinner lugs, that seem much rarer than the normal type. Pity about the case marks having been removed. Will be interesting to see if your watch is an early serial number with the 'Broad arrow' on the movement, or a later non 'broad arrow' marked cal 89.
Best regards
Paul
PS i think you can add another £1500 to your £1000 now.
4 Discussions and CommentsMember since May 12, 2011
Many thanks for your reply, Paul. It sounds as if it would be worth spending some money on it, then. I live in France, so I could get to Schaffhausen without too much trouble, but I go to UK from time to time so I could equally well have the work done there.
Do you know a reliable repairer/restorer in the south-east of England, or in London?
803 Discussions and CommentsMember since Feb. 9, 2007
Hi Patrick, welcome.
A very nice watch.
To add to Paul's info, your dial has the rare "hooked 7", which will add value in a collector's eyes. It is a pity about the lack of markings on the caseback, which will diminish value, but once someone removes the back you will be able to see what markings are on the inside and this will tell us whether it is a genuine Mark 11 back or a civilian replacement.
I would be wary of sending it back to Schaffhausen UNLESS you specify unequivocally that they DO NOT touch the dial or handset; these should not be replaced and IWC will do so unless told not to. Ideally the case should not be polished, either; the "wabi" or wear should be seen IMHO. A decent time-served watchmaker will be able to service this (Paul's watchmaker is excellent) or email me for details of someone in London.
I'd estimate value at GBP2000 or more; it won't fetch top prices due to the lack of markings, but otherwise it is a real classic to own.
4 Discussions and CommentsMember since May 12, 2011
I thought I would update you all on my Mark 11.
I had it repaired and serviced by a Fellow of the British Horological Institute who lives, conveniently for me, not far from the Kent end of the Channel Tunnel. I would be happy to recommend this expert watchmaker, Mr Tylden Reed, who has since serviced two of my Rolex watches (although he did charge a lot more for simply servicing each of them than he did for the repair and service on the IWC!)
The movement is a broad arrow Cal 89 with a number that dates it to the early 1950s. The case is unmarked and not numbered but undoubtedly authentic IWC. The glass was not removed during the service for fear of damaging its gasket, and the case was cleaned up but not polished.
A new mainspring was fitted - the watch now performs perfectly. I have added a couple of new photos to the gallery (link in my original post)
1,908 Discussions and CommentsMember since Aug. 4, 2001
A great watch. A pity the RAF engravings in the case back were wiped out. The hooked 7 dial is unusual. It is probably for the 1952 generation. It is a keeper. Congratulations.
4 Discussions and CommentsMember since May 12, 2011
I just thought I would update the story of this watch.
For a number of reasons I changed my mind about giving this watch to my nephew, and as my son already has an IWC in his collection of fine modern watches, I decided to sell it.
I showed it to Bonhams who wanted to put it into their sale of fine watches taking place in London in June this year, but the sellers' commission of 15%, coupled with buyer's commission and the tax to be paid on these commissions would have made the sale a poor deal for both me and the buyer.
I emailed Michael Friedberg to ask his advice, and as suggested by him, I sold the watch on eBay.
I know. You all think I should have kept it! But I already have a couple of other fine watches, and until I first came on this forum I had no idea of the value of the Mark 11 in my posession. Moreover, if people like me never sold their IWC vintage watches, where would you collectors be able to obtain them?
This watch's story now continues with a collector from Belgium who, I hope, will enjoy it and love it.
I have recommended him to this forum and I hope you will give him your expert advice and help if he asks for it.
553 Discussions and CommentsMember since May 21, 2005
Hi patrick Great find! For GBP 1000 I put in the back of my sock drawer right away (LOL). Cheers Be sure to post a pics when it comes back from service ( they work wonders at schaffhausen). Cheers Bas dekkers
5,419 Discussions and CommentsMember since Dec. 22, 2006
Indeed I seen the eBay auction - but since the RAF engravings were missing it was a no go for me. I already have two - but can one ever have too many Mark XI ?
829 Discussions and CommentsMember since Aug. 4, 2006
thomasa8 Wrote:Indeed I seen the eBay auction - but since the RAF engravings were missing it was a no go for me. I already have two - but can one ever have too many Mark XI ?
Agree with you, Andrew. One simple answer to your question.....NO :).
My father bought this IWC watch around 1976-8 from a retailer who used to advertise RAF surplus watches in British national newspapers such as the Daily Mail and Sunday Express. The ad offered the watches with either a nylon fabric strap or (at extra cost) a steel expanding bracelet (Fixoflex). My father paid the extra and got the Fixoflex version.
He didn't wear the watch for long and I inherited it along with the Rolex Oyster that he had worn for more than 40 years before buying the IWC. But I had my own good quality watches and I didn't wear the IWC much either - only when sailing my boat, as it was easy to read, especially at night, it could stand a bit of a drenching and a lot of rough work, and it was an ideal navigator's timepiece.
I gave up yachting in the late '80s when I started a new business that took up all my available time, so the watch got lost in the back of my sock drawer.
About 5 years ago I found it again and gave it to my wife who was having difficulty seeing any of hers well enough to read them. I had the black leather strap fitted at that time as she didn't like the expanding metal bracelet. The watchmaker who fitted it told me the watch could be valuable, around £1000 maybe - I almost had second thoughts about giving it away!
Anyway, she has now had her eyes fixed so that she doesn't need a man's watch any more, and I have got it back. It is still working, though I have never had it serviced, but it won't run for a full 24 hours between windings.
Now I am considering having it serviced and restored so that I can give it to my nephew, but I don't want to shell out a lot of money if the watch turns out not to be as valuable as suspected.
This watch has (unusually?) no markings on the back (though I think the back might have been ground/polished). It has not been opened up since my father bought it 35 years ago, so I have not looked inside, however, it does look genuine to me, and obviously I know almost all of its history.
I would welcome your expert opinions
Patrick
Best regards
Paul
PS i think you can add another £1500 to your £1000 now.
Do you know a reliable repairer/restorer in the south-east of England, or in London?
Patrick
A very nice watch.
To add to Paul's info, your dial has the rare "hooked 7", which will add value in a collector's eyes. It is a pity about the lack of markings on the caseback, which will diminish value, but once someone removes the back you will be able to see what markings are on the inside and this will tell us whether it is a genuine Mark 11 back or a civilian replacement.
I would be wary of sending it back to Schaffhausen UNLESS you specify unequivocally that they DO NOT touch the dial or handset; these should not be replaced and IWC will do so unless told not to. Ideally the case should not be polished, either; the "wabi" or wear should be seen IMHO. A decent time-served watchmaker will be able to service this (Paul's watchmaker is excellent) or email me for details of someone in London.
I'd estimate value at GBP2000 or more; it won't fetch top prices due to the lack of markings, but otherwise it is a real classic to own.
ross (at) baverstock (dot) me (dot) uk
I had it repaired and serviced by a Fellow of the British Horological Institute who lives, conveniently for me, not far from the Kent end of the Channel Tunnel. I would be happy to recommend this expert watchmaker, Mr Tylden Reed, who has since serviced two of my Rolex watches (although he did charge a lot more for simply servicing each of them than he did for the repair and service on the IWC!)
The movement is a broad arrow Cal 89 with a number that dates it to the early 1950s. The case is unmarked and not numbered but undoubtedly authentic IWC. The glass was not removed during the service for fear of damaging its gasket, and the case was cleaned up but not polished.
A new mainspring was fitted - the watch now performs perfectly. I have added a couple of new photos to the gallery (link in my original post)
Thanks to you all for your advice and interest.
Patrick
Last edited: 28 October, 2011 - 11:17
Last edited: 8 November, 2012 - 12:49
clepsydra
ad fontes...
Last edited: 30 October, 2011 - 22:05
For a number of reasons I changed my mind about giving this watch to my nephew, and as my son already has an IWC in his collection of fine modern watches, I decided to sell it.
I showed it to Bonhams who wanted to put it into their sale of fine watches taking place in London in June this year, but the sellers' commission of 15%, coupled with buyer's commission and the tax to be paid on these commissions would have made the sale a poor deal for both me and the buyer.
I emailed Michael Friedberg to ask his advice, and as suggested by him, I sold the watch on eBay.
I know. You all think I should have kept it! But I already have a couple of other fine watches, and until I first came on this forum I had no idea of the value of the Mark 11 in my posession. Moreover, if people like me never sold their IWC vintage watches, where would you collectors be able to obtain them?
This watch's story now continues with a collector from Belgium who, I hope, will enjoy it and love it.
I have recommended him to this forum and I hope you will give him your expert advice and help if he asks for it.
Great find!
For GBP 1000 I put in the back of my sock drawer right away (LOL).
Cheers
Be sure to post a pics when it comes back from service ( they work wonders at schaffhausen).
Cheers
Bas dekkers
bdekkers@sysqa.nl
" alt="image" />
Last edited: 17 September, 2012 - 19:36
Andrew
andrew.thomas1@mac.com
Agree with you, Andrew. One simple answer to your question.....NO :).
Hajo
Fair Winds and Following Seas
Last edited: 9 January, 2013 - 09:24