With the Pellaton designed automatic movement, and rare to find features like box and buckle, this large IWC is bound to appeal. Model reference 648A.
HOW DO WE DATE THIS WATCH?
From the serial number on the movement we can accurately date this watch to being made in 1961.
CONDITION
Albert Pellaton was a very significant watch movement designer. He left Vacheron & Constantin in 1944 to be technical director at IWC, where he stayed until he died in 1966. Whilst at IWC he developed the twin pawl automatic winding system, that IWC still use a variation of today. Praised for it’s efficiency, it was continually developed to improve it (and Seiko launched a variation they called Magic Fingers nine years later). In the 21 jewel calibre 853 A fitted to this watch, you also get screws in the balance wheel and micrometer fine adjustment to the timing. This watch has had a dial swap at some point, and the original distorted dial is included. The stainless steel case does have some marks here and there, but it is also larger than average for the time. It would have been deemed waterproof in 1961, as it has the IWC fish on the crown that they use on all their water resistance cases. The buckle is a very rare find, as most of these have been lost over the past six decades. The leather strap is new, and could be swapped for a different colour or material if preferred. The watch is signed on the dial, case, movement, crown, box and buckle.
This watch will be supplied with the original presentation box, the damaged original dial and our Certificate of Authenticity.
Please see the HD video for more detail. All photos and videos are part of the description and are of the actual watch unless mentioned. We do not photoshop any pictures, and the images are copyright of birthyearwatches.com and should not be used without permission.
SIZE
Width with crown 38.9 mm
Width without crown 36.4 mm
Between lugs 18 mm
Lug to lug length 44.2 mm
Case Thickness 10.8mm
All sizes are approximate. The watch is photographed on a wrist of 190mm/7.5 inches.
Included with this watch is a 3 month guarantee and free delivery to UK addresses. If you live outside the UK we can still deliver to most countries. Please see our Worldwide Shipping information, or Contact Us. Payment can be made by most credit or debit cards, bank transfer or PayPal.
From 1st September 2021 we will be planting a tree for every watch we sell, working with the International Tree Foundation (Est 1922) to make this business positive on carbon. By buying anything pre owned you are effectively reusing what already exists, but this takes it further and makes us feel good.
