This is an exceptionally rare 1940s stainless steel IWC Caliber 83 wristwatch. The timepiece has a pullout crown that sits flush against the case when pushed in, and a snap-on solid case back. The dust cover is engine turned on the inside and is engraved with the Staybrite logo, IWC hallmark, and a clearly legible serial number.
There are several distinguishing features that make this watch special:
Firstly, at 38mm the case is well oversized for the 1930-1940s period. The case features downturned lugs and a stepped bezel that alternates between polished and brushed finishes. The case is in excellent condition, with sharp lugs and no dings anywhere.
Secondly, the original unrestored matte black dial is perfect and shows no signs of oxidation. The dial is gilt printed with Roman numerals. This is the only example of Cal 83 we have seen with the beautiful and vibrant gold Roman printing. The acrylic domes crystal is original and free of any scratches.
Finally, the watch runs on the mechanical IWC Calibre 83 which is one of the best regarded movements IWC ever made. Produced between1935 and1947, it is a large and extremely stable pocket watch movement, running at 18,000 bph (frequency of 2.5 HZ) equipped with 16 jewels, a bimetallic screw balance and a Breguet hairspring. While shock absorbers were not standard at IWC until Calibre 89 came along, this particular example happens to be fitted with the Incabloc shock absorber, and a micrometer regulator. The movement is rhodium plated with Côtes de Genève embellishments and a 36 hour power reserve.
With time only timepieces out of favor and selling at a discount at the moment, we think this is an opportunity to buy an incredible timepiece with long term investment value.
