IWC 18k. yellow gold men's manual winding wristwatch, 1980's
About the Item
- Creator:
- Case Material:
- Weight:48 g
- Strap Material:Leather
- Case Shape:Rectangle
- Movement:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1990's
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Braintree, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU929320932702
IWC
One of Switzerland’s major luxury watch companies was started by an American who saw the potential of bringing Switzerland’s superb watchmaking into the modern age through industrialized manufacturing and high-precision interchangeable parts. The New Hampshire–born watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones (1841–1916), who founded International Watch Company — known today as simply IWC — in 1868, was interested in “combining all the excellence of the American system of mechanism with the more skillful hand labor of the Swiss.”
Setting up the company with another American watchmaker, Charles Kidder, in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, Jones used hydropower from the River Rhine for his plant’s machinery. Rethinking watch design would lead to one of IWC’s early successes: the Pallweber pocket watch. Based on an 1883 patent by Austrian watchmaker Josef Pallweber, the watch employed numbered disks for jumping hour and minute displays, making it a pioneer in digital timekeeping.
After Johann Rauschenbach-Vogel took over the watch manufacturer in 1880, four generations of his family led IWC into the 20th century. In 1905, Ernst Jakob Homberger and his brother-in-law Carl Jung — the famed Swiss psychiatrist — acquired IWC. Homberger bought out Jung’s holdings in 1929, and in the 1930s, the company introduced pilot watches, which were particularly robust and aimed solely at the civil aviation industry. These durable wristwatches were designed specifically to remain operational during extreme temperature shifts. (As blue watch dials are particularly hot right now, IWC's blue-dial Big Pilot is having a moment.)
The company still operates alongside the river where it was founded, having gained an international reputation over the past 150 years for its elegant designs and expert craftsmanship. Vintage IWC watches are prized by collectors — of whom there are many these days — and while the company continues to guard its attention to detail and quality, it has pushed its classic designs forward with modern innovation intended to stand the test of time.
IWC’s 2013 Ingenieur watch collection, with its precision based on an inventive constant-force mechanism, looked back to a 1955 Ingenieur model that featured a durable soft-iron inner cage as well as a 1976 update by leading Swiss watch designer Gérald Genta that encased its mechanism in a sleek steel case. IWC has also had a recent push toward sustainability, designing watches that are made to last a lifetime and beyond and earning the highest environmental ranking of any Swiss watch company in a 2018 report published by the World Wide Fund for Nature Switzerland (WWF).
Find vintage IWC wristwatches, Art Deco–style pocket watches and more on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Braintree, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
- Longines 9kt. yellow gold men's manual winding wristwatchBy LonginesLocated in Braintree, GBLongines 9kt. yellow gold men's manual winding wristwatch. Case was made in England, Birmingham, 1963 Year 1963 Reference Number: 503 Item Specifics: Case Diameter (without crown):...Category
Vintage 1960s European Wrist Watches
MaterialsYellow Gold
- Ladies Piaget Custom Diamond Dial and Bezel 18k Gold Manual Winding WristwatchBy PiagetLocated in Braintree, GBLadies Piaget custom diamond dial and bezel 18k gold manual winding wristwatch, circa 1990's Comes in original box and service document. Model Nr : 41545 Gender: Ladies Case Diamet...Category
1990s Wrist Watches
MaterialsDiamond, 18k Gold
- Baume & Mercier 18kt Yellow Gold Men's WristwatchBy Baume & MercierLocated in Braintree, GBBaume & Mercier "BAUMATIC" ref 37082, solid 18kt yellow gold men's wristwatch with date. Bracelet Maker Hallmark: LAO Bracelet Gold Date Hallmarks London 1977. Watch bracelet and cas...Category
Vintage 1970s European Wrist Watches
MaterialsYellow Gold
- Cartier Vintage Round Ladies 18k. Yellow Gold WristwatchBy CartierLocated in Braintree, GBCartier Vintage round ladies 18k. yellow gold wristwatch. Made in Geneva, Ca.1950's Hallmarked with 750 ( A standard for 18kt. gold). Genève. Gender: Woman Case size: 25 mm Movem...Category
Vintage 1950s Swiss Wrist Watches
MaterialsYellow Gold
- Omega Seamaster Automatic Vintage 18kt. pink gold Cal.501 men's wristwatchBy OmegaLocated in Braintree, GBOmega Seamaster Automatic Vintage 18kt. pink gold Cal.501 men's wristwatch. Period: 1956 Movement: 20 jewels, Automatic Calibre: 501 Hour Markers: 'Diamond' Markers and 'Dauph...Category
Vintage 1950s Swiss Wrist Watches
MaterialsGold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
- Patek Philippe 18kt Gold Men's WatchBy Patek PhilippeLocated in Braintree, GBPatek Philippe Manual Winding Porcelain Dial 18kt gold watch. Comes with certificate and Patek Philippe travel pouch. Date of Purchase on Certificate: 2001 Movement: Manual Winding, 1866233/4065435 Calibre: 215 Case Size: 29 mm Movement: Manual Winding Wrist Size: 22 cm (Adjustable) Weight: 57.70 grams total Strap Buckle: 18KT Gold Patek Philippe Buckle Bracelet Material: Original Patek Philippe Leather...Category
Early 2000s Swiss Wrist Watches
MaterialsGold
- Movado Yellow Gold Manual Wind Men's Strap WristwatchBy MovadoLocated in Stamford, CTMovado 18k yellow gold strap wristwatch with cream colored factory original textured dial. New black leather strap. Circa 1960. Length: 41.06mm Width: 33n...Category
Mid-20th Century Wrist Watches
MaterialsGold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Patek Philippe Calatrava 18k Rose Gold Men's Manual Winding Watch 3919 R (or 39By Patek PhilippeLocated in Dallas, TXPatek Philippe Calatrava 18k Rose Gold Men's Manual Winding Watch 3919 R (or 3919R) - Manual winding. 18k rose gold case with hobnail bezel (33mm diameter). White dial with black Ro...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Wrist Watches
- Gubelin 18k Yellow Gold Men's Hand-Winding Watch w/ Leather Band #320By GubelinLocated in Sherman Oaks, CAGubelin 18k Yellow Gold Men's Hand-Winding Watch w/ Leather Band #320 Movement #320 Case #182124 18k Yellow Gold Textured Square Case 29 mm Wide 29 mm Lon...Category
Mid-20th Century Swiss Modern Wrist Watches
Materials18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Cartier Ceinture Vintage 18K Yellow Gold Manual Winding WatchBy CartierLocated in Banbury, GBSKU CT-2502 Brand Cartier Model Ceinture ____________________________________ Date Circa 1980 Gender Unisex / Women Box only ____________________________________ Condition Case - Ex...Category
Late 20th Century French Wrist Watches
Materials18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Exactus Chronograph 18k Yellow Gold Manual WristwatchLocated in Surfside, FLVintage Exactus Chronograph in 18k on brown lizard strap with plaque tang buckle. Manual w/ subseconds and chronograph. 37 mm case size. Circa 1960s. Fine Pre-owned Exactus Watch. Ce...Category
20th Century Wrist Watches
MaterialsYellow Gold
- 1940's Hamilton Gordon 18K Yellow Gold Watch Manual Men's Watch #15797By HamiltonLocated in Washington Depot, CT1940's Hamilton Gordon Men's Watch' This vintage Hamilton men's watch is set in 18K yellow gold. Case is approx. 22mm x 37mm Hand winding movement Silver Dial Gold pyramid hour...Category
Vintage 1940s Wrist Watches
MaterialsGold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver