A solid eighteen carat pink, or rose gold, manual wind, large size dress watch by International Watch Company, or I.W.C., of Schaffhausen. This is a very classic, handsome and timeless example of a dress watch from one of the best to do it. During this time IWC were one of the few Swiss watch producers to make larger size dress watches. This three handed version is presented in essentially "New Old Stock" condition, looking like it has perhaps only been worn a hand full of times.
The eggshell dial is beautifully off set with the stylised Arabic numerals and baton markers in pink gold. Pair this with the drilled minute track on the outside edge of the dial, and you have just the right amount of detail to balance out the large expanse of dial. The beautiful scripted logo really adds to the classic, handsome and elegant overall look of this watch. The pink gold set of dauphine hands are clean and suit this watch perfectly. The base of the dial is stamped correctly "Swiss".
The watch is powered by a manual wind IWC caliber 89. This fabled movement can trace its origins back to an iconic watch; the IWC Mark X, part of the "Dirty Dozen" of watches contracted out by the Ministry of Defense for issue to the servicemen and women during World War Two. This featured the caliber 83, which provide the building block for the 89. The caliber 89 made its debut in the Mark XI pilots watch from IWC, and proved so dependable, durable and accurate that it went on to be used by the watchmaker until 1979. This movement has a serial umber dating production to circa 1955. Quite remarkable to find such an example, now nearly seventy years old, in this condition.
The condition of the case is excellent throughout. There are some light scratches to the outside of the case back, but nothing deep or detracting. The hallmark is still razor sharp on the outside edge of the case, which is unpolished throughout. The inside of the snap back case is fully signed with the IWC round logo, serial number, and makers hammer head poinçon for Les Fils de Jules Blum, case maker. A case maker still in existence today, celebrating over one hundred and ten years of history.
Overall, this is a stunning, large size (measuring just over thirty six millimeters) dress watch in the more unusual and preferable pink gold. The condition of which is unlikely to be topped. If you were to own only one more 'formal', dress watch, you would be hard pressed to beat this without moving to Patek Philippe and paying three times the price.
