Posted 12 years ago
Fishwhacker
(3 items)
Here is my timepiece to share for the day. This one is a bit of a mystery to me. I actually only bought it about a day ago, I saw a deal I couldn't pass up and had to have it. Wasn't planning on buying a watch this week but this one was a steal.
The dial is marked "IWA" not "IWC", a swiss company many of you may be familiar with. With that said, the movement and the overall style of the timepiece scream IWC. I don't know if this is a partner company, redial, or a fake, but it is most definitely swiss like IWC and not a low quality item. I haven't been able to find but one other "IWA" marked dial watch out there and no one seemed to know anything about it. The movement is a high quality 15 jeweled work, I'm guessing it dates to around 1920. The watch runs and keeps good time.
The case it is housed in is absolutely beautiful, near mint aside from one small dent in the side of the bezel (which is 10 sided and a nice accent). It measures 52mm in diameter and is unengraved. It is solid 14k gold. Est weight 95-100 grams, a hefty piece.
As a bonus, the watch came with a 9/10ct solid gold fob (we will see if it is solid or not when it gets here) as I haven't seen a fob this thick and heavy with onyx in solid gold yet. I have to assume if it is solid gold the scrap value alone will nearly cover my purchase.
Anyways, hope you folks enjoyed this watch. It certainly has made my week and I will be eating a lobster dinner tonight I suppose.
Mystery started , I've never heard of "IWA". But has you stated in description the case and fob are goodies. Lovely piece and will be watching for more info on the IWA markings.
Did they have "private labels" like American watches?
Dave
Fishwacker,
This might lead to an answer. I tried to copy and paste the text.
Dave
http://watch-wiki.org/images/d/d8/Modification_Iwa_Watch_Co.jpg
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=IWA+Watch+Co.&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1280&bih=680&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=KB50vQxWnenMHM:&imgrefurl=http://watch-wiki.org/images/4/4f/&docid=FWI1-mUvBURB8M&imgurl=http://watch-
Here is another one.
wiki.org/images/4/4f/Modification_Alpina_Watch_Co,_Perla_%2526_Iwa_Watch_Co._FH_20_sept_1930..jpg&w=472&h=493&ei=E3dWUND2DaeCiwKc0YC4DA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=393&vpy=140&dur=3128&hovh=229&hovw=220&tx=94&ty=105&sig=117290019140168819708&page=1&tbnh=150&tbnw=144&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:78
Another one:
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=IWA+Watch+Co.&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1280&bih=680&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=dLCncFg8gR4L4M:&imgrefurl=http://watch-wiki.org/images/c/c2/&docid=A2W8eJyw5k3E4M&imgurl=http://watch-wiki.org/images/c/c2/Modification_Perla_%2526_Iwa_Watch_Co._FH_26_sept_1947.jpg&w=432&h=309&ei=4HdWUJWXIaGcjALphIDIBQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=990&vpy=324&dur=971&hovh=190&hovw=266&tx=134&ty=93&sig=117290019140168819708&page=1&tbnh=156&tbnw=203&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:0,i:109
Thanks for the loves everyone and special thanks to PW collector. Your links led me to this, (translated from german)
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://watch-wiki.org/index.php%3Ftitle%3DJ._Straub_%2526_Co./de&prev=/search%3Fq%3DJ.Straub%2Bperla%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26biw%3D1418%26bih%3D727%26prmd%3Dimvnsb&sa=X&ei=qAftT8n8M8Kg2QWL7KS1Cg&ved=0CEoQ7gEwAA
Good job Dave and Fishwhaker, I've learned something new today.
Oops misspelled Fishwhacker, sorry, but will probably happen again, because spelling isn't one of my positive qualities. LOL Again Sorry for the screw-up.
Fishwhacker,
I'm glad you found something I could read. This is a new one to me also. Great find.
Dave