hi guys
Left a stupidly low bid on this IWC and won it. Never seen one with this bezel though, so am wondering what exactly this is. Photos are from the listing so no movement pics unfortunately. Dial not in best condition but I’m hoping under closer inspection it will be original.
What do you guys think? It’s automatic with what looks like a monocoque case.
I’ll add more pics once received.
Thanks in advance.
HH

 

Hard to see whether the lugs have the proper hallmarks. Best to wait until you receive the watch and can open it up to see the markings on the inside of the case. My guess would be an aftermarket case.

 

never seen this case before,,,but there are a lot of things I have not seen before...come back and tell us more once in your hot hands....sometimes you have to be careful w/those stupidly low bids, they could boomerang back and hit you..

 

Cheers for the replies I'll open it up once received and post more pics of it then.

 

Calling @Tony C.

 

The dial appears genuine, but I've never seen that case variation. So I'd want to see the info inside of the case back before forming any strong opinion.

 

Hi guys
got the watch and opened it up
Looks like it's a cal 852 and case appears to be genuine IWC, still can't find any other examples of this watch.
Here's more pics

 

Not an expert, but have owned a few vintage IWC dress watches. As others have said, have never come across anything like that bezel-case, but with vintage watches, who knows! The case markings and movement look legit to me and my limited knowledge. looks to be early 60s? vaguely remember the serial number dates.

Get it cleaned up (may cost you more than you paid for it haha)! I think these watches are well undervalued, so congrats!

Out of interest, did you buy it off ebay? would love to know who the seller was (estate auction?)

 

I thought the caliber 852 was produced till '58/'59 and started around app. '52 which suggests it even could be a 50's watch...

I also never saw that bezel but that back case looks like a IWC case. It would not surprise me if this is a genuine watch.

 

Yeah it's certainly a strange one! Okay I will post on the specialist IWC forum and no this was bought from an auction house!
Thanks again for the help! Always appreciated!
HH

 

The movement serial places it around 1951-2.

 

Hi again
New development with this watch! Turns out it's very faded but the dial does in fact state automatic! Just took a better inspection under a macro lens to see it.
Possibly correct dial for movement?

 

What might be happening here is the case was locally manufactured in an importing country with the watch assembled using an imported IWC movement and dial. Apparently some countries used this local assembly approach to circumvent high import taxes that would have otherwise had to be paid on finished gold watches. I would have expected the caseback to also have been locally made but this one appears to be an IWC.