456 Discussions and CommentsMember since Dec. 18, 2009Northbridge,
Australia
Hi All,
After being prompted by someone else in another thread (Thanks Andy) I have done some quick research into the markings on IWC's gold cases - the ones usually found between the lugs but also in other places to indicate a precious metal case.
I pulled out a IWC loupe that was kindly given to me by Bill B when we had a NYC GTG late last year and had a good look and was able to make out the St Bernards head as well as the scales and 750 and after some quick research found out that the St Bernard is a requirement for all precious metal watch cases either made or imported into Switzerland. There is also meant to be some sub marking which can be found on the St Bernard's ear but my loupe was not powerful enough to make out that kind of detail (looking at the size of the hallmark on my white gold PPC, I am guessing IWC use a laser technique to apply these now days instead of the older stamping method so it is tiny) so would be keen to hear if IWC still uses the sub marking at all, or if they use the Helvetia, Lynx 1 or some other hallmark to indicate 18k gold?.
Cheers,
Ben
Time is something invented by the Swiss to help sell more watches
456 Discussions and CommentsMember since Dec. 18, 2009Northbridge,
Australia
After some closer inspection coupled with a little more reading, I may have partially answered my own question - I misunderstood the markings and neither the Helvetia nor the Lynx should be there. There is a symbol on the St Bernards ear and I think as hinted at by Celler and a few others in the past (searching back through old forum posts) this indicated the Assayers office? I cant make out what the marking is on mine though, I must look great to anyone who walks past my house and looks through the window, they would see someone holding a loupe up the the side of a watch, squinting, moving, adjusting, swaying head, tongue hanging out all trying to figure out what this microscopic marking is . . .
Time is something invented by the Swiss to help sell more watches
456 Discussions and CommentsMember since Dec. 18, 2009Northbridge,
Australia
Well it seems after a little more looking, coupled with some good single malt scotch whisky, I was able to make out an S in the St Bernards ear - initial searches returned nothing, but after trawling through a few swiss legal documents, I managed to find out that the S is for none other than Schaffhausen - what else!
Time is something invented by the Swiss to help sell more watches
5,025 Discussions and CommentsMember since Aug. 9, 2006
Ben,
Here is a macro shot I took years ago of my RG 5001. My photo skills were pretty amateurish then, but you can clearly see the St. Bernard Head and the 750 scale.
456 Discussions and CommentsMember since Dec. 18, 2009Northbridge,
Australia
Bill B. Wrote:Ben,
Here is a macro shot I took years ago of my RG 5001. My photo skills were pretty amateurish then, but you can clearly see the St. Bernard Head and the 750 scale.
Thanks for the close up Bill, I actually managed to track your same shot down through one of older threads (yep, the search function does work). I picked up my first macro lens yesterday so will have to have a crack at getting a shot of the St Bernard myself and see if I can capture the detail of the ear.
Cheers,
Ben
Time is something invented by the Swiss to help sell more watches
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...
3,233 Discussions and CommentsMember since Aug. 23, 2002Montreal, Quebec,
Canada
Amazing insight, many thanks.
It seems like the Platinum cases also bear the same mark (see to the left) but it's not so clear in this photo. I also will try to take a close up for further inspection:
4,731 Discussions and CommentsMember since Dec. 18, 2006
Very interesting, thanks! When I have my Pisa Perpetual back I will see what markings are on a white gold case and try to take a closeup picture to post here.
After being prompted by someone else in another thread (Thanks Andy) I have done some quick research into the markings on IWC's gold cases - the ones usually found between the lugs but also in other places to indicate a precious metal case.
I pulled out a IWC loupe that was kindly given to me by Bill B when we had a NYC GTG late last year and had a good look and was able to make out the St Bernards head as well as the scales and 750 and after some quick research found out that the St Bernard is a requirement for all precious metal watch cases either made or imported into Switzerland. There is also meant to be some sub marking which can be found on the St Bernard's ear but my loupe was not powerful enough to make out that kind of detail (looking at the size of the hallmark on my white gold PPC, I am guessing IWC use a laser technique to apply these now days instead of the older stamping method so it is tiny) so would be keen to hear if IWC still uses the sub marking at all, or if they use the Helvetia, Lynx 1 or some other hallmark to indicate 18k gold?.
Cheers,
Ben
Time is something invented by the Swiss to help sell more watches
Time is something invented by the Swiss to help sell more watches
Time is something invented by the Swiss to help sell more watches
I'm inspired to pull out a gold watch and loupe. Now where's my scotch?
Dick L.
whichwatch at roadrunner dot com
Here is a macro shot I took years ago of my RG 5001. My photo skills were pretty amateurish then, but you can clearly see the St. Bernard Head and the 750 scale.
Bill
Thanks for the close up Bill, I actually managed to track your same shot down through one of older threads (yep, the search function does work).
I picked up my first macro lens yesterday so will have to have a crack at getting a shot of the St Bernard myself and see if I can capture the detail of the ear.
Cheers,
Ben
Time is something invented by the Swiss to help sell more watches
Cheers,
Ben
Time is something invented by the Swiss to help sell more watches
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...
It seems like the Platinum cases also bear the same mark (see to the left) but it's not so clear in this photo. I also will try to take a close up for further inspection:
Cheers,
Nad
Kind regards,
Clemens