Early IWC

International Watch Company 
Engström Stockholm 
18k gold  
ca. 1917 
17 Jewels  
Movement cal. IWC 64 
Swiss made  
Ø ca. 29 x 29 mm 

We are excited to present to you are most recent newcomer which is this antique 18k gold cushion shaped trench watch from IWC (International Watch Company).

It was made especially for the Engström, Stockholm, which is considered one over the oldest watch dealers and makers in Northern Europe, founded in 1832 and even to this day they are located in Stockholm, yet they no longer carry the IWC brand.

Only the truly high market watch dealers managed to get their name printed on the dials of such luxury brands. The dial reads Engström, Stockholm and where you would normally see Swiss made, Switzerland or plain Swiss at the 6 o’clock it reads: Import. Sometimes the retailer's name was painted directly on the dial, or the importer might have offered this as part of his service to the retailer, there are clearly several possibilities, in any case this in part explains the ‘import’ mark.

The gorgeous 64 caliber movement with ‘Geneva striping’ finish is signed IWC in a football shaped outline.

This caliber is equipped with bimetallic screw balance with 4 adjustment screws.

The luminescent hands are called ‘poire squelette’ in French, meaning skeleton and referring to the hour hand pear shape or ‘cathedral’ hands, because of the resemblance to lead and glass stained windows. In this case the pear shape is that of a heart.

The 18k gold cushion shaped case has all the right markings for a 750 gold case, the Helvetia heads and the letter B for Biel/Bienne, Probus Scafusia IWC which stands for Good, solid craftsmanship from Switzerland.The "Sun and Imperial Crown" mark also stands for 18k gold.

Other details are the lovely original shape Pumpkin crown and the perfectly domed thin glass crystal.

I think I covered more than enough info this time round