This movement recently came to my attention. As historians know, IWC started a second numbering in the 1880, with low numbers and went up, more or less consecutively. It wasn't until 1938 that IWC produced movement number 1,000,000 and it took until 1970 for movement number 2,000,000 to be made.
So how can this movement have a number over 2,000,000? And what is the calibre?
I know the answers, which I'll post soon unless a pocket watch whiz knows the answer ;)
1,589 Discussions and CommentsMember since May 16, 2002
Out of curiosity, the serial number looks as if it's stamped whilst IWC looks as if it's engraved. Is that correct? If so is the serial number stamped as one stamp or is each number stamped individually? As to why a 19th century movement has a such a high number I haven't got a clue.
5,022 Discussions and CommentsMember since May 29, 2003Sarasota, FL,
United States
I remember you telling me something about the Seeland numbering system being all out of whack. I think there were three numbering systems. The Seelands were numbered all over the place and made no sense.
2,996 Discussions and CommentsMember since April 2, 2011Hong Kong,
Hong Kong
interesting. i love quizzes - but here is likely a bad guess: a Calibre 28 with the original movement number '5503', and found and re-cased, and re-numbered with '202' stamped in front ?
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.
Thanks to David Seyffer, Museum Curator, for this information:
The movement is a Caliber Elgin III, remontoir á base (the winding mechanism is not visible). The number of the movement is 25503. iWC does not know why the managers from operative departments in the 1880s used a ´20´ or sometimes a ´10´ as a prefix, but there are many in the records.
The watch with the movement (20)25503 and case 34363 should have been sold on March 8 1888. (It is clearly marked in the Records of the movement and casebooks; but not in the sales records.)
The Elgin III is the forerunner if the Caliber IWC aka 52/53. From the technical point of view the Elgin III is very similar to the 52. The Elgin III was sold first in 1886. In 1888 the Elgin III movements are called in the sales records “Cal. IWC”. In the famous caliber list of the 1920s one finds the Elgin III as Cal. 47 (Lépine) or Cal. 48 (Hunter).
1,096 Discussions and CommentsMember since March 28, 2001
Somehow I was contacted concerning this watch directly. Here the comment I gave 3rd of December:
The movement is a c.47. It is quite funny. the movements where built for the US market (most probable) with hidden winding wheels. So it was necessary to have big numbers. IWC added a 20 in from ot the ordinary/correct movement number (25503)
It has the same(similar) mechanism for winding as the c.28/29, c34/35 (and 38/39 which I have never seen) There is also a hunter version of this movement of which I have just seen 1 picture.
Here a picture of my c.47 and the mechanism of a c.29 windng mechanism
There is no time in the now it's time for a watch.
This movement recently came to my attention. As historians know, IWC started a second numbering in the 1880, with low numbers and went up, more or less consecutively. It wasn't until 1938 that IWC produced movement number 1,000,000 and it took until 1970 for movement number 2,000,000 to be made.
So how can this movement have a number over 2,000,000? And what is the calibre?
I know the answers, which I'll post soon unless a pocket watch whiz knows the answer ;)
Regards, Michael
mfriedberg@iwcforum.com
Last edited: 4 December, 2012 - 21:28
If so is the serial number stamped as one stamp or is each number stamped individually?
As to why a 19th century movement has a such a high number I haven't got a clue.
Cheers Greg Chalk
Cvanwhite at aol dot com
Last edited: 21 February, 2013 - 13:47
Last edited: 4 December, 2012 - 23:09
No idea about the number.
Waimar
Regards, Michael
mfriedberg@iwcforum.com
I guess, we are going to have to wait until tomorrow to learn about this unique bit of IWC history.
Best regards
Mark
Last edited: 16 April, 2013 - 00:36
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
The movement is a Caliber Elgin III, remontoir á base (the winding mechanism is not visible). The number of the movement is 25503. iWC does not know why the managers from operative departments in the 1880s used a ´20´ or sometimes a ´10´ as a prefix, but there are many in the records.
The watch with the movement (20)25503 and case 34363 should have been sold on March 8 1888. (It is clearly marked in the Records of the movement and casebooks; but not in the sales records.)
The Elgin III is the forerunner if the Caliber IWC aka 52/53. From the technical point of view the Elgin III is very similar to the 52. The Elgin III was sold first in 1886. In 1888 the Elgin III movements are called in the sales records “Cal. IWC”. In the famous caliber list of the 1920s one finds the Elgin III as Cal. 47 (Lépine) or Cal. 48 (Hunter).
Regards, Michael
mfriedberg@iwcforum.com
Last edited: 5 December, 2012 - 02:03
Even though it is not a Seeland, is it possible for a Seeland to be numbered in the 2 millions?
Here the comment I gave 3rd of December:
The movement is a c.47.
It is quite funny. the movements where built for the US market (most probable) with hidden winding wheels.
So it was necessary to have big numbers. IWC added a 20 in from ot the ordinary/correct movement number (25503)
It has the same(similar) mechanism for winding as the c.28/29, c34/35 (and 38/39 which I have never seen)
There is also a hunter version of this movement of which I have just seen 1 picture.
Here a picture of my c.47 and the mechanism of a c.29 windng mechanism
There is no time in the now it's time for a watch.