Hi, So... asked this question a while back on two other watch forums; received no answer. Since I know there are quite a few knowledgeable chaps around here, would really appreciate any input you may have regarding this possibly-franken watch. Please find the exact post I've made several months ago, questions remaining unanswered. I have acquired a cal. 89 IWC a while ago and have some questions regarding its legitimacy... There is a large difference between case and serial numbers, which bothers me somewhat. Here is the data: Case no 1106128 (1940/1944-1950 - rather old for such a new movement?) Movement No 1370718 (1956, correct for cal. 89) Have you ever encountered this situation before? My second concern is regarding the correctness of each element of the case. I am attaching a few pictures to illustrate my main concerns [my answers are in brackets]: - is the dial re-written in your opinion? [partially perhaps; the IWC script appears OK to me] - is the glass original to the case? [probably not] - is it OK for the case to be only plated (corrosion marks are present)? [probably not] - is the crown original to the case (assuming the case is OK, even if not original to this particular movement)? [probably not] Thank you in advance for your help, I welcome all input and information! View attachment 199847
It is a redial. The case does look odd, I believe the crown is incorrect (should be steel to match the case), and I'm pretty sure the hands are replacements. Here is one of mine with similar dial. Note the minute and hour hands are longer.
Hi again, Thank you all for the input and for confirming my assumptions! Since it's not really a high-end piece, perhaps moving it to a different sub-forum might be appropriate
Ok, so we have established this one is dodgy. But why do the cases and movements have different numbers? Here is mine
Because entire watches aren't manufactured from scratch one at a time. Cases are made in batches, as are calibers. Only in the final piecing together are case & caliber mated.
A small clarification: a very small percentage of vintage watches actually do have matching case and movement numbers. These are typically low production models, and are quite uncommon.
Most Longines with Swiss made cases from the early 1930s and prior have case numbers that reflect the movement (serial) number. This was true for gold cases right up until the mid 1940s. http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Very-rare-Lo...332280?hash=item4d3e472738:g:7HcAAOSwv0tVNkr6Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network http://www.horol.com/items/cat6/0359.html http://www.carsandwatches.com/longines/
Thank you all for the additional input; great stuff, as always! Also, nice pick-up on the hands; at least the second hands looked OK to me. My first question referred to the almost 10-years difference between caseback and movement; was curious if the back might have been paired with the movement since birth or it's a complete jigsaw watch.
A 10 year gap isn't common at all, and odds say it's a marriage watch (the nice way to say frankenwatch, or what you refer to as a complete jigsaw watch). There are other hints that the watch was assembled from parts and didn't come that way from the factory, like the hands are not the same color as the dial furniture.