189 Discussions and CommentsMember since June 7, 2010
I've posted recently about my new 666 Inge w/ratty silver dial.
I've been offered what the seller tells me is a very recent factory replacement dial. You will notice that one of the silver markers fell off at the 5 minute mark. He has it and will of course include it with the dial.
Do any of you have doubts about this dial NOT being recent IWC factory stock?
Thanks in advance for any opinions..
best Todd
p.s. please note that when I say "factory stock" in reference to a dial I am of course referring to whatever company IWC used to outsource the production.
1,908 Discussions and CommentsMember since Aug. 4, 2001
Hi Todd, The dials for the Ref 666AD Ingenieurs were made of soft iron to complete the upper part of the Faraday cage. Have you checked if this dial is attracted by a magnet?
189 Discussions and CommentsMember since June 7, 2010
clepsydra Wrote:Hi Todd, The dials for the Ref 666AD Ingenieurs were made of soft iron to complete the upper part of the Faraday cage. Have you checked if this dial is attracted by a magnet?
Hi, and yes it is attracted by a magnet. I understand that soft iron will lose magnetism quickly if magnetized. I am also under the impression that it should have no attraction to a magnet. Although I am somewhat uncertain about that last statement..
Is it possible that that some of the replacement dials ordered by IWC were made to different specifications than the originals? Perhaps different alloys added? I ask this because the lettering and finish look "too good" for a counterfeiter or re-dialer.
1,908 Discussions and CommentsMember since Aug. 4, 2001
The artwork in the dial is excellent and I believe it is IWC original. If the dial is attracted by a magnet and loses its magnetization soon after the magnetizing source is removed, then the dial is most likely authentic. Although counterfeiters are getting more sophisticated, I don’t think they would go through the trouble, or had the knowledge, to use soft iron. It would not be cost effective. If the dial retains magnetization after the magnetizing source has been removed for a while, then it is probably made of steel, in which case the dial is counterfeit.
189 Discussions and CommentsMember since June 7, 2010
clepsydra Wrote:The artwork in the dial is excellent and I believe it is IWC original. If the dial is attracted by a magnet and loses its magnetization soon after the magnetizing source is removed, then the dial is most likely authentic. Although counterfeiters are getting more sophisticated, I don’t think they would go through the trouble, or had the knowledge, to use soft iron. It would not be cost effective. If the dial retains magnetization after the magnetizing source has been removed for a while, then it is probably made of steel, in which case the dial is counterfeit.
OK, thanks a lot. I understand the part about soft iron gaining and and then losing magnetization quickly. I had wondered if soft iron could be attracted to a magnet at all, so thanks for the clarification. A watchmaker I know and trust has seen the dial in the flesh and cannot believe that it could be counterfeit given the artwork and level of detail at the date window among other things. Thanks much for your reply.
I've been offered what the seller tells me is a very recent factory replacement dial. You will notice that one of the silver markers fell off at the 5 minute mark. He has it and will of course include it with the dial.
Do any of you have doubts about this dial NOT being recent IWC factory stock?
Thanks in advance for any opinions..
best
Todd
p.s. please note that when I say "factory stock" in reference to a dial I am of course referring to whatever company IWC used to outsource the production.
Last edited: 27 October, 2012 - 21:20
The dials for the Ref 666AD Ingenieurs were made of soft iron to complete the upper part of the Faraday cage. Have you checked if this dial is attracted by a magnet?
clepsydra
ad fontes...
Hi, and yes it is attracted by a magnet. I understand that soft iron will lose magnetism quickly if magnetized. I am also under the impression that it should have no attraction to a magnet. Although I am somewhat uncertain about that last statement..
Is it possible that that some of the replacement dials ordered by IWC were made to different specifications than the originals? Perhaps different alloys added? I ask this because the lettering and finish look "too good" for a counterfeiter or re-dialer.
Last edited: 28 October, 2012 - 19:28
If the dial is attracted by a magnet and loses its magnetization soon after the magnetizing source is removed, then the dial is most likely authentic.
Although counterfeiters are getting more sophisticated, I don’t think they would go through the trouble, or had the knowledge, to use soft iron. It would not be cost effective.
If the dial retains magnetization after the magnetizing source has been removed for a while, then it is probably made of steel, in which case the dial is counterfeit.
clepsydra
ad fontes...
OK, thanks a lot. I understand the part about soft iron gaining and and then losing magnetization quickly. I had wondered if soft iron could be attracted to a magnet at all, so thanks for the clarification. A watchmaker I know and trust has seen the dial in the flesh and cannot believe that it could be counterfeit given the artwork and level of detail at the date window among other things.
Thanks much for your reply.