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1970s IWC Automatic
Reference
1818
Diameter
36 mm
Condition
Good
Box/Papers
None
A vintage IWC with an elegant cream dial, a fish crown, and the IWC 854B automatic movement.
Overview
As the demand for military issued pieces waned after World War II, IWC’s watchmakers focused their efforts on simple dress watches that made use of the robust in-house movements they had developed during the mid-20th century. Many of these watches featured white dials, precious metal cases, varied lug designs, and the famous hand-wound caliber 89. Less often seen were steel versions, and even rarer were those powered by the 85X automatic calibers.
The watch here is one of those scarce examples in steel, sporting a cream dial with black Roman Numerals and black painted hands. Notably, the crown is marked by a fish symbol, which IWC began using in the 1950s to indicate a watch was water-resistant. Beating away inside is the caliber 854B with Albert Pellaton’s patented winding system. The same movement would later power Gérald Genta’s Ingenieur SL reference 1832, and was the last of its line before IWC began using modified Jaeger-LeCoultre movements.
Specifications
Brand:
IWC
Model:
N/A
Reference:
1818
Year:
1970s
Case Number:
2115023
Case Material:
Stainless steel
Diameter:
36 mm
Lug Width:
18 mm
Thickness:
10.1 mm
Lug-to-Lug:
41.9 mm
Dial:
Cream
Lume:
None
Crystal:
Acrylic
Movement:
Automatic
Caliber:
IWC 854B
Bracelet/Strap:
B&R Bands tan calfskin strap with tang buckle
Max Wrist Size:
Hand model has a wrist size of 6.1 in
Condition
Good
:
Case may have a few moderate scratches or nicks. Lugs are thick and full but may have softened edges. Dial and hands may have light stains or marks. Lume may have cracks or discoloration.
Case: The stainless steel case shows moderate wear that's too be expected for a vintage watch of this age. There are hairlines, scratches, and nicks throughout, however the silhouette remains incredibly sharp and strong.The lugs are nice and thick with superb definition at the edges. The lug at 4:30 is angled ever-so-slightly outwards compared to the rest. The caseback condition is consistent with the rest of the watch. There are a couple small but notable scratches near the lip used to pop the caseback off. The backs of the lugs show marks from prior strap removal. The serial number engraving at 6 o'clock is faint but still legible upon close inspection.
Dial, Hands, & Crystal: The creamy eggshell dial is incredibly clean with fully intact printing and only a couple very tiny spots of patina visible upon close inspection. The black painted hands are wonderfully preserved with no notable imperfections. The acrylic crystal is super clean with no major scratches or chipping present.
Bracelet/Strap: The B&R bands tan calfskin strap is in excellent condition with only light signs of use in the form of faint creasing to the leather backing. The unsigned stainless steel shows no notable imperfections.
Performance
Functions: All functions including the crown winding and time setting are working as expected.
Service History: The watch recently underwent a full service by Art of the Watch that was completed on 01/27/2024.
What’s Included
What’s Included
watch
Watch
IWC Automatic on a tan calfskin strap.
inventory_2
Box/Papers
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Extras
Service record from Art of the Watch dated January 2024.
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Authenticity Guarantee
Each watch is thoroughly evaluated and guaranteed to be authentic unless explicitly stated otherwise. Prior to any sale, we are happy to provide additional photos or videos of the watch, movement, and accessories at your request. Once you receive the watch, we allow a 72-hour inspection period during which you may return the watch for a full refund if it is misrepresented.
We spend a considerable amount of time researching any watch we plan to source. This includes cross-checking the visual details, case numbers, and movements using examples sold by other reputable dealers and buying guides published by subject matter experts. We set very high standards and will not consider any watch with questionable parts or inconsistencies that cannot be verified elsewhere.
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Condition Grades
We use the following rubric to assign each watch a condition grade that best represents its external appearance.
Timegrapher Readings
These readings were taken on a Weishi No. 1000 timegrapher approximately one hour after fully winding the watch.