Condition, condition, condition. Vintage watch collecting is all about condition. Finding historically significant pieces in fantastically well preserved states is an endless endeavor. When a watch comes across your desk that is seemingly in a time capsule there is an aura about it. Factory original bevels on a case - especially in a watch thats more than 72 years old is a rare occasion. 
     This claw lug IWC Cal. .89 "calatrava" is one of those rare occasions. Its 36.5mm solid yellow gold case is unpolished. The hallmark on the back of the lugs is wonderfully preserved - deep, crisp, and defined - exactly what you would like to see. Take the wonderful unpolished case coupled with a dial that seemingly left IWC factory yesterday with its classic pencil hour and minute hands and hand applied minute markers and you have the epitome of class. Truly indeed, a mid 20th century manually wound dress watch is one of my favorite segments to collect in. 

ABOUT THIS WATCH: 

MANUFACTURER: IWC

MODEL:  "Calatrava"

REFERENCE:  Cal. 89

SERIAL:  119xxxx

YEAR: 1945-1950

DIAL: The non-luminous champagne dial is in fantastic condition. Only under the highest of magnifications can an admirer notice very slight decay surrounding some of the hand applied circular minute markers. The dial features pencil hour and minute hands - a class configuration from mid 20th century manually wound dress watches. 

CASE: The 36mm solid yellow gold case is unpolished. The hallmarks are deep, crisp and defined. The claw lugs retain their factory original bevels with mirror polished anterior and satin finished sides. 

MOVEMENT: IWC manually wound caliber 89. Beautifully decorated manually wound movement that has just returned from service and comes with a 1 year mechanical warranty fulfilled by the watchmaker. Owner just needs to pay for the shipping. 

BRACELET: Comes on the pictured leather strap. 

ACCESSORIES: No.  

BOX/PAPERS: No.

BANK WIRE PRICE: $2,000 shipped.