IWC

For a similar IWC Mark IX, please see IWC Engineering Time Since 1868 by Fritz, Coelho and Bilal, page 243.

In 1936, IWC developed the first special pilot’s watch with a modified type of the cal. 83 movement that was used for manually wound watches at the time. The special watch featured specific requirements for time measurement in flight. Fitted with a black lacquer dial, the watch features large contrasting luminous numerals, hands and an adjustable external bezel for measuring flying time. The cal. 83 was further regulated for extreme temperatures. IWC made the escapement from an antimagnetic design due to the strong magnetic fields in the cockpit rendering the escapement 'flight-qualified'. Finally, the watch was distinguished from all other pilot’s watches from the period and was fitted with plexiglass, an unbreakable material compared with crystal glass that was used by all other watch manufactures. The present watch is of both exceptional provenance and is consigned by an important collector.

Purchased in Switzerland by the present owner in 2000, the watch was serviced and fully documented by IWC. Due to the restrictions and prohibition of being able to ship a watch with original radioactive material on the dial and hands, IWC suggested and carried out the removal of this radioactive material from the dial and hands. IWC re-applied and re-coated the original dial, however, used period hands from their stock that had already been re-coated as a substitute for the originals..

They confirmed its date of sale on 21 February 1936. IWC were so impressed with the present watch that they invited the owner to attend as a special guest to the inaugural IWC Collectors meeting in Schaffhausen. During the event, the collector wore his Mark 9 and received countless praise by everyone who encountered it as the finest Mark 9 pilot’s watch they had ever seen.

Some years later there was an alarming number of counterfeit IWC Mark 9 watches appearing on the market. IWC insisted to inspect all known Mark 9 wristwatches in their factory to confirm earlier certificates and accordingly, the present watch was again researched, authenticated and given a second extract dated June 2005 from IWC.

In very attractive condition with amazingly preserved case, pilot’s watches from IWC rarely ever appear on the market in any condition. To find one together with certificates of authentication, service card with serial number and a beat rate chart from service is a very rare opportunity.