IMO probably portuguese case or gold-plated (?) in Portugal. I don't , what know your number 4 means..
.

 

lovely watch, the teardrop case is very appealing.

I believe the ML is a cameo type sponsor mark, to identify the case as it was present to some authority who assayed the case material as to its purity. My understanding is that the sponsor mark is applied first, then the assay mark is applied following gold content confirmation.

I was unable to find either the sponsor mark, or the wolfs head symbol with its number 4 following a quick search through a quick look of the online resources I have found. Perhaps others can help out. Consequently, I would agree with your belief that the watch was cased outside of Switzerland. The second link below shows marks cataloged from around the world, so with a fresh cup of coffee and some time, a deep dive into that link may provide the answer for you.

I believe you can get a COA from IWC for your watch. If you do, that may show you some clues as to the country the watch was delivered to, and may narrow your search.

some case mark links that I have found helpful are:

https://www.vintagewatchstraps.com/casemarks.php

https://www.925-1000.com/foreign_marks.html

 

@Fallout Boy @Flatfoot Thank you both for your input. Further to my previous post, the only vague info from a few years ago I have about these marks was that someone who also has ML on their IWC caseback posted somewhere that it represents an unknown/unnamed Austrian casemaker. I've also read that the wolf/dog mark with 4 denotes a 14k gold case (and below graphic seems to confirm that). Hungary had marks with wolves but so do the Portuguese, as FalloutBoy mentions, so in all likelihood it comes from some place between the Atlantic and the Danube.

From (http://magyarermebolt.hu/catalog/hallmarks.php) ->

 

I'm probably a bit more cautious - like you, I take care with all of them, but while this is in my rotation, just, it only gets a few special outings a year. But that infrequency does actually make it feel all the more special!

 

Hello
Can anyone help me with this one.Only I know about it ,is bought new 1970.I think it is some 1963.model.
Now I know it has no original straps,crown.glass and hands,all other is in perfect working konditions and all ove, watch is in very good condition for its ages , IT is 18k 750 solid gold model 36mm .
Anyone knows more or maybe some fair selling price?
Thank you in advance

 

start a thread and add pictures

 

An 50s IWC with the automatic 853 movement

 

I posted about my IWC here: https://omegaforums.net/threads/iwc-ref-802-case-mystery.144595/


As I explain in that thread it's a bit of a mystery, as it seems to be an R802A, but with a subtly different case design froim teh standard R802A. Anyway, I've just sent it to IWC for an estimate for servicing, so maybe they can tell me something about it.

 

Damn... Really?

They've been very nice and polite so far, now perhaps I know why!

Well, if the worst comes to the worst they might be able to tell me something about the watch, and if the quote is ridiculous I can take the watch back and send it to watch guy instead..

 

[
ATTACH]1423974[/ATTACH] View attachment 1423975 View attachment 1423977 View attachment 1423979 View attachment 1423980 View attachment 1423981 View attachment 1423982 View attachment 1423983 View attachment 1423984 View attachment 1423985 View attachment 1423986 View attachment 1423987 View attachment 1423988 this is another watch that insisted I bought it ..sometime in the nineties 1960s I think

 

2nd attempt

This is another watch that insisted I buy it
I think it was in the late 90s
it was sold to me as a 60s watch but looking at the serial no 1104191 it coud be 40s/50s any other info greatly received