Mens PRIMO 1922 IWC INTERNATIONAL WATCH Co SCHAFFHAUSEN 3X SIGNED - SILVER CASE, PERFECTLY PRESERVED - NO RES! Start Price USD 0.50 Current Price USD 900.00 Time Left - Bid Count 36 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Saturday, August 23, 2008 End Time Tuesday, September 02, 2008 Location Kiev See more about 'Mens PRIMO 1922 IWC INTERNATIONAL WATCH Co SCHAFFHAUSEN' Description IWCInternational Watch Co.1922UNIQUE AND RARE EXAMPLE OF WATCHESVERY BEAUTIFUL VINTAGE WATCH 1922VERY BEAUTIFUL MECHANICAL WORKThis auction is for a scarce and rare example of a gentleman’s International Watch Co. (IWC) timepiece that dates to 1922.A Few Facts About IWC's History: 1868: How it all startedIn 1868, an American by the name of Florentine Ariosto Jones made the brave decision to found a watch factory in ?>?>Switzerland from where he planned to supply the USA with movements. Switzerland was a low-wage country back then and had a ready supply of skilled labour for the watchmaking industry (mainly manual work carried out by people working from their homes). In French-speaking Switzerland Jones met with fierce resistance because people feared for their jobs and the work they did at home.In 1850 the town of Schaffhausen was in grave danger of missing the bus to the Industrial Age. It was at this stage that watch manufacturer and industrialist Johann Heinrich Moser stepped in and did the region a huge service. As a pioneer of "white coal", he built Schaffhausen's first hydroelectric plant and laid the cornerstone for future industrialization. He probably met F.A. Jones in Le Locle and showed a great interest in his plans. And so it was that the foundations were laid for the first and only watch manufacturers in north-eastern Switzerland: the INTERNATIONAL WATCH CO. in Schaffhausen.1869: The eventful early years"With the object of combining all the excellence of the American system of mechanism with the more skilful hand labor of the Swiss, we have established our Watch Factory at Schaffusen, Switzerland."F.A. Jones rented the first factory premises in an industrial building owned by J.H. Moser in Rheinstrasse. Very soon he had to rent further rooms in the "Oberhaus", one of the oldest buildings in Schaffhausen. By 1874 plans were already being made for a new factory. A site was purchased from Moser's hydroelectric company directly adjacent to the banks of the Rhine, the "Baumgarten", as it was called. Schaffhausen architect G. Meyer won the order to design and build the factory and about a year later, in spring 1875, the construction work was completed. At that point 196 people were working in the 45-meter-long factory, which could accommodate up to 300 workplaces.The IWC story goes on.1880: Beginning of the Rauschenbach eraJohann Rauschenbach-Vogel, Chief Executive Officer and a machine manufacturer from Schaffhausen, took over the INTERNATIONALE UHRENFABRIK on 17 February 1880. This change marked the beginning of the story of INTERNATIONAL WATCH CO., which would last almost one hundred years and four generations, a family-owned company that would be known under various names.Only a year after the sale, Johannes Rauschenbach died. His son, Johannes Rauschenbach-Schenk, was 25 years old when he took over the UHRENFABRIK VON J. RAUSCHENBACH and ran it successfully until his own death on 2 March 1905.Another significant role on the way to the company's lasting success was played by Urs Haenggi from Nunningen in the canton of Solothurn. He had got to know the watch business in French-speaking Switzerland and France; in 1883 he joined IWC and stayed with the company for 52 years. He got factory operations up and running smoothly and acquired new customers. He was also responsible for warding off the danger of the factory passing into other hands "in the interest of the noble Rauschenbach family".Technician Johann Vogel from Wangen on the Aare in Solothurn likewise played an important role as technical director. He designed and developed IWC calibres until 1919.1905: E.J.HombergerAfter the death of J. Rauschenbach-Schenk in 1905, his wife, two daughters and their husbands, Ernst Jakob Homberger (director of G. Fischer AG in Schaffhausen) and Dr. Carl Gustav Jung (psychologist and psychiatrist), took over the watch factory as an open trading company by the name of the UHRENFABRIK VON J. RAUSCHENBACH'S ERBEN. E.J. Homberger was the only authorized signatory, Haenggi and Vogel were directors.Following the death of his father-in-law, Ernst Jakob Homberger had a considerable influence on the Schaffhausen watchmaking company's affairs and guided it through one of the most turbulent epochs in Europe's history. Just before the world economic crisis, he took over as sole proprietor and renamed the company UHRENFABRIK VON ERNST HOMBERGER-RAUSCHENBACH, formerly INTERNATIONAL WATCH CO. His contribution was honoured in 1952, when he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of St. Gallen. He died in 1955, aged 85 years.During the period just before and after the First World War, E.J. Homberger devoted himself to devising and setting up social institutions. He extended the living quarters for factory employees and established a fund for widows and orphans. In 1929, the name of the fund was changed to the J.Rauschenbach Foundation and in 1949 he founded the Watch Company Welfare Foundation.1944: The mistaken bombing of IWCOn 1 April 1 1944, as a result of a fatal error, Schaffhausen was bombed by the American airforce. The watch factory was hit by a bomb which, fortunately, failed to detonate after crashing through the rafters. The flames from incendiaries exploding nearby penetrated the building through the broken windows but were extinguished by the company's own fire brigade.This timepiece features an elegant white dial is in excellent condition, absolutely no chips of abuse.It is featuring a 24 hour outer track border with RED numerals, black Arabic numerals, original copper Spade-style hands and a recessed sunk sub-seconds dial with "sweep" seconds hand. The new dial has been professionally updated, and now is in excellent condition. Signed International Watch Co. in black enameled lettering below the 12 and further signed SCHAFFHAUSEN. The swivel lugs are in great condition while the Onion-style winding crown (also called Pumpkin style) is in very good shape and operates properly. Turning the watch over I see that the back lid is in good condition. Peeking inside I find there is an inner dust cover lid, a good sign of a quality watch. This was used to protect the mechanism from dust and debris and to provide an extra layer of protection from shock or moisture.The inside of the case lid is stamped with the most famous marking IWC the "Probus Scafusia", 0.800 (The “0.800” is the mark for Silver), Swiss (Wood Grouse) and German (Crescent Moon/Crown) silver hallmarks and case reference number #822508. This beautiful wristwatch has the Original movement in an excellent status which was very well saved, considering age of this watch. Mechanism has been recently serviced to ensure it winds and sets smoothly while keeping great, accurate time. The 15 jewels, manual wind Gold plated, high-grade mechanism is stamped the most RARE marking the IWC with movement serial number #785924, dating the watch to 1922 as per company production records.This is a “NAIL SET” watch so you don’t pull the crown out to set the time. Instead, you press the little button below the crown IN and then move the crown to set the hands, releasing the button once you’re finished. It’s easy, so don’t worry about getting the hang of it! It comes complete with a new 18mm black high quality pigskin strap genuine leather with matching chrome silver buckle for a most excellent look.Diameter (with crown):       55.00 mm (2.1654 inches)Diameter (without crown):  52.00 mm (2.0472 inches)Watch crystal diameter:     44.00 mm (1.7323 inches)Thickness:                         14.00 mm (0.5512 inches)This cleaned, oiled and regulated antique watch winds and sets very smoothly while keeping very good, accurate time.Always an EXTRA FINE watches at a no Reserve Price!!!If you like unique and minty vintage wristwatches (or just enjoy learning about all the different watch makers and models) I suggest you bookmark this page or add me to your "Favorite Sellers" list. I always have beautiful timepieces for sale ending Monday.Recommendations for the owner of antiquarian watches:- All Antique watches are mechanical. Many repairs will not be cheap, as most likely they will require replacement of non-standard parts (unlike most late model watches).- Antique watches should not be beaten or dropped - because repairs may be expensive.- Antique watches are generally NOT waterproof. This is because waterproofing was not in general production until the middle of the 20th century for most watches. Therefore you should protect your antique watch from exposure to moisture.- If your watch becomes wet it should be dried off quickly. Carefully open all covers and use a hair drier to blow dry the movement, dial, covers, crown. This will reduce the amount of rust.- If your watch becomes wet with any kind of salt water you should immediately immerse or spray your watch with fresh (no-salt) water to remove all the salt from the works before drying the watch completely. Any salt left in the watch will combine with moisture in the air to rust metal components of the movement, case etc.- Winding any mechanical watch tight may break the mainspring. If you can avoid it do not wind the watch hard.- When adjusting the hands of your watch, move them in a clockwise direction only. Counter-clockwise adjustments may damage the movement.- If you must adjust counter-clockwise make it for small adjustments only (i.e. for minutes, NOT hours).- Be careful and gentle when adjusting the movement speed (faster or slower). Don't make sharp movements, and don't touch other components in the movement especially the pendulum mechanism.- Every 2-3 years it is necessary to service and oil vintage watches.- IF the watch is dirty - allow the watch to run down, don't wind it again until you have it serviced by a qualified watch repair expert. Dust will absorb and remove important lubricants and cause the movement pieces to wear down.- To clean the case, dial and crystal you should use a cloth that does NOT leave fibers as these may get caught up in the movement. Check with your Watch repair expert to get an appropriate cloth.- Keep your antiques watch away from magnets. Strong magnetic fields may affect the accuracy of your watch since some vintage watches were made with iron based components in the movement.- Most Cases and Covers are fine components and will not handle abuse well. The watch should not be shaken, beaten, or stressed.- Antique watches generally experience an error of up to 5-7 minutes a day. Any accuracy of +- 5 minutes is very good.It will make a great addition to any collection.Payment must be received by seller within 7 days of the close of this auction. Zero feedback and negative feedback bidders must first email me so that I am assured You understand the auction rules and if You win, You will be able to pay for the item according to my terms and conditions. Email with questions BEFORE bidding.Winner adds funds for shipping worldwide by Air Mail (shipping and handling to all locations in the world is US$14.00).The watch in pictures is the actual watch that You will receive. Supplied without box and sold as seen.PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING BEFORE BIDDING!Please note:Vintage watches are very delicate and I package to the highest degree to prevent damage.High altitude flights can be hard on watches due to extreme temperature changes. This can cause the oil viscosity to decrease (gum up) and prevent a watch from ticking (the balance moving freely etc.). It may need to be oiled when it arrives regardless of its recent servicing (if applicable). Although this is only a very slight possibility it can occasionally happen.Please bear in mind that you are buying a used watch and it will require service at some point in time.If You have any questions after reading the description or viewing the pictures please email me prior to bidding.RETURN POLICY:If You are not satisfied by Your purchase, please communicate with me, and we together it is obligatory to discuss and we shall resolve any created situation. I always reach a consensus with buyers who communicate with me.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Email me with questions about the item.THANK YOU FOR LOOKING!Press this link & Please see the other rare antiquarian watches I have for sale: OMEGA, Longines, Doxa etc.  Powered by eBay Turbo ListerThe free listing tool. List your items fast and easy and manage your active items. Place a Bid!