1952 IWC Automatic Cal. 852 34mm Gold Capped "Calatrava"
Ref: 1348598
Specification
Lugs : 18mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : None
Case Material : Gold Capped
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold as "Watch Only" and, therefore, comes with no original IWC box or paperwork. It is paired with an 18mm well-suited brown strap. The watch is from Circa. 1952 and is sold in worn vintage condition; signs of age can be seen, but the watch remains in all original and very fair condition for its age. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1P58Nun4V4k4OoQdwv8KriE27tzxD2kiZ?usp=drive_link
4K YouTube video, skip to 17:34 - https://youtu.be/g8ab83BOcTs
The Watch
Here, we have a classic 1952 IWC Automatic Cal. 852 Gold Capped "Calatrava", which means a thick layer of Gold has been mechanically heated and applied in layers on top of the 34mm stainless steel case. Drilled tapered lugs lead to a lug-to-lug length of 41mm and a case thickness of 10.5mm, ensuring a comfortable fit on your wrist. On the right side is a coin-edge signed "fish" crown. A smooth bezel holds a domed crystal above an ivory cream dial in a configuration very much like the "Patek Calatrava" dials of the same time period. An outer minute track with lume pips surrounds applied gold-toned bullet-shaped indexes marking the hours; elegant gold-toned Dauphine hands are complemented by a tapered second hand. At 12 o’clock, we have the IWC motif in an attractive swirling font and at 6 o’clock, “Automatic” completes this sophisticated, understated dress watch. On the reverse, a solid stainless steel case back, inside is an automatic IWC Cal. 852, 21 jewels, beating at 19,800 beats per hour, this Albert Pellaton-designed movement introduced in 1951 was the first calibre to use his Pellaton automatic winding system. The watch comes paired with a well-suited 18mm leather strap and pin buckle.
Personal Note
This vintage IWC features the most incredible original dial which has "burn marks" where the hands were left in one position for an extended period, likely 10/15+ years, the luminescent material in the hands then caused the dial material to "burn", leaving a shadow of the hands, its things like this that make vintage so interesting to me and each watch truly unique. I would not hesitate to add this watch to your collection today, examples this good come up very rarely and are becoming harder and harder to find!
The Brand
In 1867, Florentine applied for a European passport with the dream of creating watches using the American system of Watchmaking. This system was taken from the Federal Armories at Springfield and Harpers Ferry. Where armaments needed high-precision interchangeable parts. This was perfect to use in watchmaking, and Florentine was a pioneer in introducing it to the Swiss. In 1868, Florentine and Charles Kidder ended up in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. Originally called the company F. A Jones & Co, which was later changed to IWC International Watch Company. In 1876, Florentine returned to the USA, where he retired and sadly passed away in 1916. The spirit that he spent a lifetime perfecting carries on today in modern IWC watches.