IWC Calatrava 18K Rose Gold Jumbo 36mm
About the Item
- Creator:
- Case Material:
- Strap Material:Leather
- Case Shape:Round
- Movement:
- Case Dimensions:Diameter: 1.42 in (36 mm)
- Style:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:
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: New York, NY
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- IWC Calatrava Stainless Steel 36mmBy IWCLocated in New York, NYThis is an iconic 1950's IWC caliber 88 manual wind Calatrava. The watch was considered jumbo size for the decade at 36mm considering that most watches were under 32mm in size. This ...Category
Vintage 1950s Swiss Retro Wrist Watches
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Tissot Calatrava 1950's Jumbo 36mmBy TissotLocated in New York, NYThis is a 1950's Tissot Jumbo Calatrava. The case measures 36mm which was extremely large for a watch from that period. This watch is powered by a Tissot caliber 27 15 jewel manual w...Category
Vintage 1940s Swiss Retro Wrist Watches
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Zenith Calatrava JUMBO 38mm 18K GoldBy ZenithLocated in New York, NYIndulge in timeless elegance with our Vintage 1960s Zenith 38mm 18KT Gold Case and Bracelet Watch. This classic timepiece features a Zenith caliber 40 17 jewel manual wind movement, ...Category
Vintage 1950s Swiss Retro Wrist Watches
Materials18k Gold
- IWC Calatrava 18K Yellow Gold AutomaticBy IWCLocated in New York, NYIntroducing the IWC (International Watch Co.) vintage 1960's wristwatch, a timeless embodiment of elegance. This exquisite timepiece features a 34mm round 18kt yellow gold case with ...Category
Vintage 1960s Swiss Retro Wrist Watches
MaterialsYellow Gold
- Patek Philippe Calatrava Fancy Lugs 18K Rose Gold 33mmBy Patek PhilippeLocated in New York, NYThis is an amazing Patek Philippe Calatrava in 18K rose gold. The case measure 33mm. The watch is powered by a manual wind movement. The serial number on this watch indicates that it...Category
Vintage 1950s Swiss Retro Wrist Watches
MaterialsRose Gold
- Jaeger-LeCoultre Calatrava 18K Rose GoldBy Jaeger-LeCoultreLocated in New York, NYStep into the world of timeless elegance with the Jager-LeCoultre vintage 1950's wristwatch. This exquisite timepiece boasts a 35mm round 18kt rose gold case, exuding luxury and refi...Category
Vintage 1950s Swiss Retro Wrist Watches
MaterialsRose Gold
- Rolex 1803 Day-Date Oyster Perpetual 36mm 18k Rose Gold WatchBy RolexLocated in Miami, FLVintage Rolex reference 1803 Day-Date Perpetual president watch Circa 1970s, 36mm 18k rose gold case, 18k rose gold oyster band with fold-over bucket. Rose Gold Dial with Date and Da...Category
Vintage 1950s Swiss Wrist Watches
MaterialsRose Gold
- Cartier Ballon Bleu 36mm in 18k Rose Gold Auto Watch REF. 3003By CartierLocated in Miami, FLBrand: Cartier Model: Ballon Bleu Movement: Automatic Case Size: 36 mm Dial: Roman Numeral Hour Markers Bezel: 18K Rose Gold Case Material: 18K Rose Gold Band Material: ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Wrist Watches
MaterialsRose Gold
- Cartier Ballon Bleu 3003 Silver Dial 18K Rose Gold Box Paper 36mmBy CartierLocated in San Diego, CAStyle Number: 3003 Year: 2007 Model: Ballon Bleu Case Material: 18K Rose Gold Band: 18K Rose Gold Bezel: 18K Rose Gold Dial: Silver Face: Sapphire Crystal Case Size: 36mm ...Category
Early 2000s Wrist Watches
MaterialsRose Gold
- Rolex Men Datejust 36mm Turn-O-Graph 18K Rose Gold/Steel Watch Oyster 116261By RolexLocated in Pleasanton, CARolex Datejust Turn-O-Graph 36mm Watch. A Pre-owned watch w/ Original Box and 2009 Card. Watch is 100% Authentic and Comes with Authenticity Card. Watch Reference is 116261 and is in...Category
Early 2000s Swiss Modern Wrist Watches
MaterialsRose Gold, Steel
- Rolex Datejust 36mm 116233 Steel & 18k Gold Mens WatchLocated in Chelmsford, GBIndulge in luxury with this Rolex Datejust 36mm 116233 watch, crafted in Switzerland with timeless precision. The round watch face showcases a champagne sunburst dial pattern, comple...Category
20th Century Swiss Wrist Watches
Materials18k Gold, Steel
- Patek Philippe 2458J Massive Vintage 36mm Calatrava Watch Circa 1949By Patek PhilippeLocated in Santa Monica, CAIntroduction: This Patek Philippe 2458J vintage Calatrava watch is made in 18K yellow gold, measuring 36 mm in diameter and fitted with a 12"-1...Category
Mid-20th Century Swiss Wrist Watches
Materials18k Gold