1960s IWC "Calatrava" Pellaton Automatic Yellow Gold 35mm
Ref: 1647620
Specification
Lugs : 17mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : None
Case Material : 18ct Yellow Gold
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. The watch comes paired with a well-suited aftermarket 17mm black leather strap and a Swiss hallmarked 18ct yellow gold pin buckle. The watch is from Circa. Early 1960s and is sold in worn vintage condition, with little signs of age can be seen on the watch, the condition for the age is spectacular. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PB_Ua6hSfR0WTCUCBaQqrefmKKsrrkYn?usp=drive_link
4K YouTube video, skip to 5:42 - https://youtu.be/tqVVCHFINgQ
The Watch
Here we have a curvaceous 1960s IWC "Calatrava" Pellaton Automatic with a 35mm 18ct Yellow Gold round case that sits comfortably on your wrist thanks to the delicate teardrop lugs, Swiss hallmarked. The slim stepped profile has a lug-to-lug length of 39mm and a case thickness of 9.5mm, and on the right side is a recessed push/pull crown with a coin edge for grip. A thin, smooth bezel holds a domed crystal above a striking engine-turned sunburst gold dial, an outer ring of pips mark the minutes surrounding applied gold facet indexes marking the hours; they magically play with the light as you rotate your wrist, elegant gold Dauphine hands have crisp chamfer edges and are complemented by a tapered second hand, at noon you find the original International Watch Company motif in its distinctive swirling script and at 6 o’clock “Automatic” completes this incredibly sophisticated dress watch. On the reverse, a snap-off case back Swiss hallmarked, inside an automatic IWC Cal. 853, 21 jewels, based on the IWC-exclusive Pellaton automatic winding system, developed by Albert Pellaton in 1950, this new self-winding mechanism was deemed groundbreaking for its era. It revolutionised the traditional approach by enabling the transfer of energy from the bidirectional rotor to the mainspring, this innovative solution proved to be considerably more efficient compared to other self-winding movements of the time. The watch comes paired with its well-suited aftermarket 17mm leather strap and its Swiss hallmarked 18ct yellow gold pin buckle.
Personal Note
This IWC Pellaton in 18ct gold is just incredible both on and off the wrist. The case proportions at 35mm paired with the slightly thicker, though still incredibly thin at 9.5mm, case thanks to the automatic IWC Cal. 853 which is where the nickname "Pellaton" comes from. Based on the IWC-exclusive Pellaton automatic winding system, developed by Albert Pellaton in 1950, this new self-winding mechanism was deemed groundbreaking for its era. It revolutionised the traditional approach by enabling the transfer of energy from the bidirectional rotor to the mainspring, this innovative solution proved to be considerably more efficient compared to other self-winding movements of the time. I would not hesitate to add this incredible example to your collection today, they are only getting harder and harder to find like this!
The Brand
Florentine Aristo Jones founded IWC in 1868. In 1867, he applied for a European passport with the ambition to create watches using the American system of Watchmaking. This system was derived from the Federal Armories at Springfield and Harpers Ferry. Where high-precision interchangeable parts were needed for armaments. 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. Florentine returned to the USA in 1876, where he retired and sadly passed away in 1916. His spirit carries on today in the modern IWC watches.