Understanding IWC Mark XII Original Case Finishing

FedFod · Nov 9, 2024

Hello folks!
This IWC Mark XII is currently in an auction and I am interested in it. I am not too sure about the case though.
The lugs line look a bit too soft and the case a bit too scratch-free.
What say you?

I'd like this post to serve also as a more general guide on Mark XII cases finishing

FedFod · Nov 9, 2024

For example, I guess this is how an unpolished case should look like.
The one posted above is much softer

FedFod · Nov 9, 2024

This other one for example, looks refinished to me.
The caseback should be polished on the slope and not brushed.
The case in general appears in too good condition for a 30 years old watch

vibe · Nov 16, 2024

The bezel looks pretty sharp to me. On these the top and angled section is radially brushed and the vertical part of the bezel is polished. If polished on buffing wheel, all of those edges would be gone. I have one that was serviced and polished by IWC in Switzerland and it looks similar to that one. The example just above has a bezel that looks soft. Here is mine. Unfortunately, IWC also replaced the handset.

FedFod · Nov 16, 2024

vibe
The bezel looks pretty sharp to me. On these the top and angled section is radially brushed and the vertical part of the bezel is polished. If polished on buffing wheel, all of those edges would be gone. I have one that was serviced and polished by IWC in Switzerland and it looks similar to that one. The example just above has a bezel that looks soft. Here is mine. Unfortunately, IWC also replaced the handset.

Thank you for commenting and showing these beauties! Yeah i’ve heard that IWC will replace tritium handsets if they deem the tritium is starting to leak or something. Nothing that detract to the looks in any case.
In the first one I posted, don’t the lugs look too soft to you?

vibe · Nov 16, 2024

This is how I see it and why I am pointing at the bezel as the metric. You can judge the level of polish by the bezel much more than by the lugs. If the bezel is soft, then it has seen a buffing wheel. The lugs are not super sharp from the factory as far as I know.

Understanding IWC Mark XII Original Case Finishing

FedFod

FedFod

FedFod

vibe

FedFod

vibe

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