190 Discussions and CommentsMember since June 7, 2010
Hi Everyone,
I posted about this watch a few months ago.... http://www.iwc.com/forum/en/discussion/56366/
It took about 5 months for the complete spa treatment and I thought I would share a few pics with you good folks.
Overall I'm very happy with the work done. It's running about 2-3 sec/day fast, is a pleasure to wind, and looks good on my wrist.
The case had never been polished before this service but did have several deep knicks and scratches. The factory did a superb job of very lightly polishing it which allowed several of the deeper scratches to remain. This is fine with me as I purchased this watch as a user, not a museum piece.
The replacement dial is OK, but not quite as nice as the old one. The old dial was a bit more elegant with a more delicate, almost "airy" script. The lettering on the replacement seems a bit crude in comparison. The new one is a bit too silvery in color for my taste and I think this timepiece would look better with a white or ivory dial. And unfortunately IWC has no replacement for the pie pan type dial and substituted a regular convex dial.
The non-original crown that was on the watch when I sent it to Schaffhausen has unfortunately remained on the watch. A factory rep told me (via email) that if the factory could waterproof the watch they would return it with a fish crown. Apparently they were unable to waterproof it? Who knows..
I was relieved to find a small envelope containing my old dial, seals, and several tiny screws. I had mentioned in writing several times that I wanted the old dial back and thankfully this request was honored.
I may in the future look for an 18K fish crown and older pie-pan dial. But for now, I'm just going to enjoy this old beauty on my wrist...
This renovation was handled by the NYC boutique and I could not have asked for better service. Noreen MacDonald and Patrick Thadewaldt were enormously helpful in answering my many questions and facilitating this transaction. They are real pro's and I loved working with them.
cheers Todd
p.s. I will be posting a new thread showing picture comparisons of the old and new dials for this watch. There is something very interesting about that old, spotted piepan dial that Schaffhausen sent back to me....
2,996 Discussions and CommentsMember since April 2, 2011Hong Kong,
Hong Kong
the joy of a SPA-return = the joy of receiving a new watch.
congrats Todd and superb looking piece u have there, not to mention it's lineage.
Regards, Shing | email iwcforme1976 (at) gmail (dot) com time does not change us. it just unfolds us. max frisch. all that really belongs to us is time; even he who has nothing else has that. baltasar gracian.
Omar Khayyám (Persia XI-XII Century) offered that Time should not only be measured in length but also in width due to the intrinsic difference between a minute or other depending on what is happening to the beholder... I wonder how a watch would look like...
1,589 Discussions and CommentsMember since May 16, 2002
Looking so much better. Versus original dial the piepan effect seems less pronounced or is this down to the photographs. Either way I would be well pleased with spa treatment as its now a watch to roll the sleeves up for as against hide under the extra long cuff!
I posted about this watch a few months ago....
http://www.iwc.com/forum/en/discussion/56366/
It took about 5 months for the complete spa treatment and I thought I would share a few pics with you good folks.
Overall I'm very happy with the work done. It's running about 2-3 sec/day fast, is a pleasure to wind, and looks good on my wrist.
The case had never been polished before this service but did have several deep knicks and scratches. The factory did a superb job of very lightly polishing it which allowed several of the deeper scratches to remain. This is fine with me as I purchased this watch as a user, not a museum piece.
The replacement dial is OK, but not quite as nice as the old one. The old dial was a bit more elegant with a more delicate, almost "airy" script. The lettering on the replacement seems a bit crude in comparison. The new one is a bit too silvery in color for my taste and I think this timepiece would look better with a white or ivory dial. And unfortunately IWC has no replacement for the pie pan type dial and substituted a regular convex dial.
The non-original crown that was on the watch when I sent it to Schaffhausen has unfortunately remained on the watch. A factory rep told me (via email) that if the factory could waterproof the watch they would return it with a fish crown. Apparently they were unable to waterproof it? Who knows..
I was relieved to find a small envelope containing my old dial, seals, and several tiny screws. I had mentioned in writing several times that I wanted the old dial back and thankfully this request was honored.
I may in the future look for an 18K fish crown and older pie-pan dial. But for now, I'm just going to enjoy this old beauty on my wrist...
This renovation was handled by the NYC boutique and I could not have asked for better service. Noreen MacDonald and Patrick Thadewaldt were enormously helpful in answering my many questions and facilitating this transaction. They are real pro's and I loved working with them.
cheers
Todd
p.s. I will be posting a new thread showing picture comparisons of the old and new dials for this watch. There is something very interesting about that old, spotted piepan dial that Schaffhausen sent back to me....
Last edited: 29 November, 2012 - 03:10
It looks perfect, IMHO.
I'm really amazed that IWC is able to return your watch to such a beautiful state.
Cheers and wear it in good health.
The refurbishment is amazing. It looks great. There's something special about a working vintage being restored to its glory. Wear it in good health.
Vincent Fong
Last edited: 17 January, 2013 - 10:02
congrats Todd and superb looking piece u have there, not to mention it's lineage.
Regards, Shing | email iwcforme1976 (at) gmail (dot) com
time does not change us. it just unfolds us. max frisch.
all that really belongs to us is time; even he who has nothing else has that. baltasar gracian.
Last edited: 8 December, 2012 - 16:07
Regards
Dave
Stunning!!
James
Congratulations!
Regards,
Jeronimo
Omar Khayyám (Persia XI-XII Century) offered that Time should not only be measured in length but also in width due to the intrinsic difference between a minute or other depending on what is happening to the beholder... I wonder how a watch would look like...
Cheers Greg Chalk

Cvanwhite at aol dot com
Last edited: 21 February, 2013 - 13:47
If It Is To Be, It Is Up To Me!