Wow, something genuinely special.
Congratulations on finding one and thank you for sharing pics of it.
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
Last edited by Geronimo; 20th March 2016 at 21:22.
Wow, something genuinely special.
Congratulations on finding one and thank you for sharing pics of it.
Wow, that is amazing. Well done in adding that to your collection. It is stunning.
Thank you for posting.
That is really rather lovely. Congratulations on your acquisition.
Can I show my ignorance and ask what that is at 11 o'clock on the rim of the case, please?
Beautiful and very well preserved, well done!
Thanks for the reply. I was asking about this:
...on the outer rim of the case. I think you're referring to marks on the inner face...but I may be wrong about that.
Doh...I'm a silly sod!
That is for the fingenail, press in and set the time ... Known as pin set !
Stem-wind, pin-set movements
Much like the lever-set movements, these pocket watches had a small pin or knob next to the watch-stem that had to be depressed before turning the crown to set the time and releasing the pin when the correct time had been set. This style of watch is occasionally referred to as "nail set", as the set button must be pressed using a finger
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pocket_watch
Last edited by Geronimo; 20th March 2016 at 21:33.
Thanks for that...I've learnt something!
Edit: That sent me off to the web where I found: Pocketwatch 101 - How to Set Your Vintage Pocket Watch.
Last edited by PickleB; 20th March 2016 at 21:40.
Stunning, you must be overjoyed to have picked this up?
Thanks for sharing
Now that is a piece to covet and I do. I hope 3 Hail Mary's will cover the sin but it will not stop me feeling overly err... "warm" towards it.
Amazing watch. Thanks for sharing. I can see why it is considered the archetypical deck watch.
Myron