2,149 Discussions and CommentsMember since March 23, 2001
It is well known that IWC made hundred thousands of p.w.'s with a case made of steel, silver, gold or rarely platin. Some of the cases were beautifully engraved, cisseled, carved or stamped. And there were other techniques to decorate and enrich the watch case. These methods were used by the Swiss watch industry during the 18th and 19th century, including IWC. Often the cases were pieces of art, drawing more attention than the movement itself. However, one must realise that these special techniques were not carried out in the IWC factory. These sometimes unique cases were made on demand by special "ateliers" and than delivered to the watch manufacturer. Perhaps the best known technique is called "niello" decoration. Our moderator posted on July 9, 2009, three of his IWC p.w.'s decorated with the niello technique, all of them being in perfect condition. As explained by MF, "niello" means "black". Niello is a mixture of copper, silver and sulphur. Silver, although being a precious metal, easily reacts with sulphur compounds creating silversulphid (Ag2S), which is a black substance. Persons who have a minimal amount of supheric acid in their sweat (sorry) cannot wear silver on their skin, without seeing it becoming black after some time. The niello technique was already known in ancient Egypt, Greece and the Roman Empire. The jewelry or weapons (later watches) were carved. In the "sunk" areas niello powder was applied. At a temperature of about 500 ° Celcius, the powder melted and adhered to the "sunk" silver surface. After grinding and polishing the desired effect of a shiny silver surface was accentuated by a deep black decoration. With the effect of aging, wear and tear, niello may crumble and this is why one seldomly encounters an undamaged niello p.w. It is said that niello cannot be repaired. But if all of the niello is removed, the process of melting can be repeated. As the niello tecnnique was used frequently in the Russian town Tula, niello silver is often called Tula silver. The reference books on IWC uses also the term Tula silver. As far as I know, ref. 5252 with cal.9521 was the last IWC p.w. equipped with a niello case .The watch depicted is from the late 1970ies.... Kind regards, Adrian v d Meijden, (alwaysiwc).
2,149 Discussions and CommentsMember since March 23, 2001
IWC Pocket Watch Case Decorations (Part 2). Other than niello IWC also sold watches with a blackened silver case. Here the silver surface was made black by exposing it to "liver of sulphur" an organic substance. It contained mainly potassium and sulphur compounds. Combined with the basic silver color or with gold, it could be considered as a decoration. However, such thin "plated" layer is very vulnerable. On the depicted p.w. made by IWC for Beyer in Zürich, one can see how easily the surface is damaged( near the crown, where the watch is opened). This is particularly true if the watch is used intensively. This happened during W.W I, with the so called Corps of Engineers watches made by IWC, Ulysse Nardin, Vacheron Constatin and others for the U.S. army, carrying out their logistic tasks : building roads and railways in France. The CoE watches had a complete black case, obviously not meant as a decoration but as a camouflage. However, the silver sulphid surface was not durable and if one finds a CoE watch, all the black covering has vanished. Only inside the stamped inscription and on the inside of the back cover, one can find remnants of it back. Kind regards, Adrian, (alwaysiwc).
2,149 Discussions and CommentsMember since March 23, 2001
.... Here are 2 CoE watches. The black substance silver sulphid has been removed completely on the left watch but is still present in the letters of the right watch. Kind regards, Adrian, (alwaysiwc)
2,788 Discussions and CommentsMember since Jan. 5, 2002
Really a great topic Adrian.
These craftmanship is nearly lost. But I had the opportunity to visit some watch museums around Le Locle (while visiting ZENITH), still a center of watch making and including many french towns around too.
But only the Swiss watch industry has survived.
These are some photos, taken in museums in the french part of the former watchmaking industry.
- Tula decoration
- Embossing stamps for the decoration
- Tremendous amount of pocket watches with different decoration
These museums in france have many watchmaking tools also. Really worth to visit !
2,149 Discussions and CommentsMember since March 23, 2001
Many thanks Heiko, Unbelievable nice , rich and diverse cases. But I remember that you also made top images of your own IWC p.w.'s! I hope to see them here. Kind regards, Adrian. 5alwaysiwc)
2,788 Discussions and CommentsMember since Jan. 5, 2002
alwaysiwc Wrote:Many thanks Heiko, Unbelievable nice , rich and diverse cases. But I remember that you also made top images of your own IWC p.w.'s! I hope to see them here. Kind regards, Adrian. 5alwaysiwc)
Well Adrian, some of my PWs have only ordinary but impressive decoration, like this.
But the real art of decoration is visible in those museums.
2,149 Discussions and CommentsMember since March 23, 2001
Another comment Heiko, Not long ago an IWC Schützenuhr with the image of Wilhelm Tell was discussed here. This image is present on the IWC, 1912 Schützenuhr from Rohrschach. But IWC was not the only producer of Schützenuhren. These were frequently made by Zenith, Longines, Omega, Ulysse Nardin and others. The funny thing is that identical images, especially those from Wilhelm Tell or "Helvetia" were used by other watch manufacturers. This means that they were not exclusively designed for one brand and it shows that the important watch manufacturers were involved more with movements, rather than with cases. Kind regards, Adrian. (alwaysiwc)
829 Discussions and CommentsMember since Aug. 4, 2006
hebe Wrote in reply to:
alwaysiwc Wrote:Many thanks Heiko, Unbelievable nice , rich and diverse cases. But I remember that you also made top images of your own IWC p.w.'s! I hope to see them here. Kind regards, Adrian. 5alwaysiwc)
Well Adrian, some of my PWs have only ordinary but impressive decoration, like this.
But the real art of decoration is visible in those museums.
A marvellous allegory, Heiko. A harmonious blend, the not genetically changed blossom of a sunflower and the decorated back of your PW, congratulations! No oversize, "back to the roots". ;-)
5,023 Discussions and CommentsMember since May 29, 2003Sarasota, FL,
United States
How about a niello case on a pilot watch? It could be like the Bronzo watch from Panerai since it would age depending upon atmosphere and perspiration...
Perhaps the best known technique is called "niello" decoration. Our moderator posted on July 9, 2009, three of his IWC p.w.'s decorated with the niello technique, all of them being in perfect condition. As explained by MF, "niello" means "black". Niello is a mixture of copper, silver and sulphur. Silver, although being a precious metal, easily reacts with sulphur compounds creating silversulphid (Ag2S), which is a black substance. Persons who have a minimal amount of supheric acid in their sweat (sorry) cannot wear silver on their skin, without seeing it becoming black after some time. The niello technique was already known in ancient Egypt, Greece and the Roman Empire. The jewelry or weapons (later watches) were carved. In the "sunk" areas niello powder was applied. At a temperature of about 500 ° Celcius, the powder melted and adhered to the "sunk" silver surface. After grinding and polishing the desired effect of a shiny silver surface was accentuated by a deep black decoration. With the effect of aging, wear and tear, niello may crumble and this is why one seldomly encounters an undamaged niello p.w. It is said that niello cannot be repaired. But if all of the niello is removed, the process of melting can be repeated. As the niello tecnnique was used frequently in the Russian town Tula, niello silver is often called Tula silver. The reference books on IWC uses also the term Tula silver.
As far as I know, ref. 5252 with cal.9521 was the last IWC p.w. equipped with a niello case .The watch depicted is from the late 1970ies....
Kind regards,
Adrian v d Meijden,
(alwaysiwc).
Other than niello IWC also sold watches with a blackened silver case.
Here the silver surface was made black by exposing it to "liver of sulphur" an organic substance. It contained mainly potassium and sulphur compounds.
Combined with the basic silver color or with gold, it could be considered as a decoration. However, such thin "plated" layer is very vulnerable. On the depicted p.w. made by IWC for Beyer in Zürich, one can see how easily the surface is damaged( near the crown, where the watch is opened). This is particularly true if the watch is used intensively. This happened during W.W I, with the so called Corps of Engineers watches made by IWC, Ulysse Nardin, Vacheron Constatin and others for the U.S. army, carrying out their logistic tasks : building roads and railways in France. The CoE watches had a complete black case, obviously not meant as a decoration but as a camouflage. However, the silver sulphid surface was not durable and if one finds a CoE watch, all the black covering has vanished. Only inside the stamped inscription and on the inside of the back cover, one can find remnants of it back.
Kind regards,
Adrian,
(alwaysiwc).
Here are 2 CoE watches. The black substance silver sulphid has been removed completely on the left watch but is still present in the letters of the right watch.
Kind regards,
Adrian,
(alwaysiwc)
These craftmanship is nearly lost. But I had the opportunity to visit some watch museums around Le Locle (while visiting ZENITH), still a center of watch making and including many french towns around too.
But only the Swiss watch industry has survived.
These are some photos, taken in museums in the french part of the former watchmaking industry.
- Tula decoration
- Embossing stamps for the decoration
- Tremendous amount of pocket watches with different decoration
These museums in france have many watchmaking tools also. Really worth to visit !
Regards
Heiko
Last edited: 19 November, 2012 - 19:20
Unbelievable nice , rich and diverse cases.
But I remember that you also made top images of your own IWC p.w.'s!
I hope to see them here.
Kind regards,
Adrian.
5alwaysiwc)
Well Adrian, some of my PWs have only ordinary but impressive decoration, like this.
But the real art of decoration is visible in those museums.
Not long ago an IWC Schützenuhr with the image of Wilhelm Tell was discussed here. This image is present on the IWC, 1912 Schützenuhr from Rohrschach.
But IWC was not the only producer of Schützenuhren. These were frequently made by Zenith, Longines, Omega, Ulysse Nardin and others. The funny thing is that identical images, especially those from Wilhelm Tell or "Helvetia" were used by other watch manufacturers. This means that they were not exclusively designed for one brand and it shows that the important watch manufacturers were involved more with movements, rather than with cases.
Kind regards,
Adrian.
(alwaysiwc)
Bill
Bill
A marvellous allegory, Heiko.
A harmonious blend, the not genetically changed blossom of a sunflower and the
decorated back of your PW, congratulations!
No oversize, "back to the roots". ;-)
Kind regards
Hajo
Fair Winds and Following Seas
Last edited: 9 January, 2013 - 09:24