Was looking at this, which was up for auction last week. Not sure what to make of the faint numbers just below the "1800/48" on the caseback. Any ideas?

 

As 1800/48 would have been put on by IWC they would have had to be there before and I've never seen one like that.
A check of the movement number using this applet: http://moeb.on-rev.com/dyIWC/dyIWC.irev
may show if it was put into a mark 11.
Did you bid ?
I also saw this and a few others that interested me, but Bahrein was a bit of a stretch on a Saturday morning.

 

Many thanks for this, David.

I didn't bid, but it was passed in and I was thinking of making an offer.
However, given the oddities on the back of the case -- the steel doesn't look like it is up to IWC's usual standard either, but that may just be post-war quality problems -- I don't think I will.

 

I've passed the question on to the IWC forum. They are more expert than me . If I get a response I'll let you know.

 

If this was in the Watches of Knightsbridge sale, I hear the watches will be back in UK mid next week. I take it all watches were commissioned in the UK, and taken out to Dubai.

 

If this was in the Watches of Knightsbridge sale, I hear the watches will be back in UK mid next week. I take it all watches were commissioned in the UK, and taken out to Dubai.

Not all. some were from Dubai.