The Cal.71 was built in 1917 and used by the Admiralty well after the second world war. It was the MoD who ordered that these watches were to be recased, with the movement number repeated on the inside case-back.
The watches very rarely turn up at auction, and I am pleased and relieved that I could get one for my collection, after years of searching.
These are considered the holy grail of deck watches, and are highly collectible (and priced) not only to the IWC collectors!
How many of these Calibers were made also remains a mystery, as it is said 600 were produced in 1917, but the IWC App "Date Your IWC" says 1917 676,301 - 676,600 Lép. c. 71 - 19lig. H 6 ...which would be 300!
How many of these survived till this day...not more then a handfull!
Here for your pleasure the pictures of a movement that should be framed in the Louvre ;-)
Jimmy
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