Let’s take a short break from all the hoopla surrounding BaselWorld this week and take a peek at some historical watches from a company that’s NOT in Basel. Sotheby’s is hosting an auction on May 11th in Geneva and the usual suspects are present: Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Audemars Piguet, to name a few. But while we never tire of seeing a vintage Polaris or “3-6-9” dial Submariner, it’s a rare treat to find a healthy quiver of great old IWCs at auction. And there are three of them here that offer a glimpse into the company’s past and show direct inspiration for modern pieces from three of their watch families.
Seeing as it’s the “Year of the Ingenieur” in Schaffhausen, how about this reference 1832 Inge from 1976, created by Mr. Gerald Genta himself. While not the first Ingenieur (that was 1955), the ref. 1832 is perhaps the most beloved and the one to which the latest Ingenieur Automatic pays faithful homage, with its anti-magnetic movement holder and distinctive bezel. If you want the real thing, or just don’t want to jump on the Nautilus or Royal Oak bandwagon, sign up to bid for Lot 240.
Another great old IWC we like is Lot 228, the 1940s “Portuguieser,” which, like the Genta Ingenieur, is another touchstone design for IWC. This reference 325 has the oversized case (42mm) and hand-wound pocketwatch movement IWC built into the watch to suit the tastes of its Iberian clients. Look at the current Portuguese line from Schaffhausen and you can see the family resemblance. Of course, if you want this ancestral version, prepare to pay dearly for it, as the estimated sale price is 28,000 - 48,000 CHF.
Finally, moving over to the Pilot family, there is a vaunted Mark 11 from 1951 (Lot 281), perhaps the quintessential pilot’s watch of the postwar era. This was the one issued to Royal Air Force pilots starting in 1948, and it bears the distinctive Broad Arrow dial marking as a consequence. Despite its humble dimensions (36mm x 12mm) and mechanics (hand-wound calibre 89), the Mark 11 enjoys celebrity status among military watch collectors and its influence is seen in all the subsequent “Mark” Pilot’s watches from IWC, right down to the current Mark XVII.
While Sotheby’s is best known for its important sales of highly collectible and fabulously expensive pieces (the Graves Supercomplication for example), anyone can rub virtual shoulders with the rich and famous by just signing up to bid and jumping into the fray. On May 11th, any of these terrific old IWCs would be a great place to start. You can find more information here.
(Via Hodinkee)
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