Reply With QuoteIt doesn't look too bad to me. I would just get the movement serviced if I were in your situation.
Hi everybodey,
I'm new here, refered to this site by BLUETEAMMASSIVE.
Just bought a watch from him (Seiko SBDC007 shogun), It could be on my doorstep any day now, so thats very exciting.
Anyway, last year I got a great present from my uncle who gave me his (now mine) IWC MKXI. Great watch and in relatively good condition.
But I have shipped it to Schaffhausen anyway for a well deserved service, (maybe the first in decades).
Its and early one, 1948, with 816/48 on the back of the watch.
I'm now waiting on a quote from IWC, to hear from them what they suggest to do with it.
I have already told them not to touch the dial and hands, as they are in good enough condition and original!.
Here's my question. Should I or shouldn't I have it polished. I really can't make up my mind. This watch has been sitting in canisters and boxes together with other watches, tools and whatnot, so it's quite scratched and it has taken a bashing.
So how will it look after Schaffhausen has polished it. I'm told they use the original tools during the service. It will probaply not remove the deeper scratches, but thats good, it needs the vintage look. Will I ruin it if its polished or does the watch deserve the full spa treatment.
Looking forward to your reply
Here's some photo's of my little treasure.
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It doesn't look too bad to me. I would just get the movement serviced if I were in your situation.
I agree. The case matches the dial and hands nicely. Lose the dings and it won't be so harmonious.
Smashing watch.
Lovely watch you have there.
I'd leave it well alone personally. It looks fantastic.
Maybe a new strap though!
It looks surprisingly good to me. Were it mine, I'd go for a "vintage refinish", e.g., lightly touch the worst of it and then call it good enough. I'm not sure if IWC can/will polish in that way though.
It doesn't want to be polished so that it damages the chamfer, edges and shines. The case should be a matte, lightly brushed finish.
Fantastic watch - my number 1.
Here's one more.
I do wear it with a gray NATO strap.
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I have a gray NATO strap for it now.Originally Posted by Dave O'Sullivan
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Leave it, just service and a new strap.
Lovely watch. This is the watch that got me interested in watches about 10 years ago. I wasn't knowledgable enough to risk buying one so targeted the later Mk X11 and XV models. Ironically, I never did buy one and with multiple watch purchases under my belt since, I am sitting here scratching my head as to why I didn't
Lovely. I would be tempted to get it serviced and new strap and leave alone.
I wear my mark xii a lot.
Mark
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Yes, leave it as it is. I'd have sent it to John Senior, I'm not sure I'd trust IWC with it. In fact mine is going there this week for a service
Last edited by trident-7; 13th March 2017 at 20:58.
BTW I think the crown looks wrong. One of the best watches ever made, regularly in the top 5 of Military watch collectors. Probably worth 5 grand
Yes, maybe I should check the crown.
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It will be interesting to read about the options IWC give you.
Personally, I think it is would be a great pity to refinish the case on this watch. In fact I would go as far as to say it would be wrong to refinish it, certainly in the all-or-nothing way that IWC may offer.
It’s a very nice watch to have had handed down to you from a family member! Congratulations.
Thanks you guys for all the interest and good advice. I won't have the watch polished. Just reconditioning of the inner workings.
I'll keep you all updated.
Regards
Reinold
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I wouldn't refresh the case - military watch collectors like their watches to show their history and you'd risk affecting the watch's value considerably.
I just got of the phone with IWC. They said that the wacht needed lots of stuf, and mandatory laser treatment, mandatory brushing, mandatory new hands, replacement crown ;-) etc. Price tag>1100 euro. WHAT????
So I'll be paing 1100 E and get a perfectly fine working watch, but one that lost all its visible history/vintage look. I guess they still follow the very strict service instructions that came with the RAF requirements 70 years ago. .
I kindly requested them to send me my watch back without anything done to it.
So I'll be looking for an alternative watchmaker to get my watch running smooth.
Any ideas?
Last edited by Reinold; 14th March 2017 at 13:17.
[QUOTE=trident-7;4279699]Yes, leave it as it is. I'd have sent it to John Senior, I'm not sure I'd trust IWC with it. In fact mine is going there this week for a service
Who is John Senior?
[QUOTE=Reinold;4280256]Nor would I. IWC have no idea how to maintain the essence of this watch, they will want to make it new again which will completely undermine the value and desirability of a fine watch.
John Senior is a very well regarded watchmaker who specialises in military watches. He can be contacted via the MWR forum or via his website http://www.obsoletewatchandclockparts.com/ (Awful website!).
Good call.
I’ve read of this kind of policy (and cost) before regarding older IWC. I think it is misguided. I can understand this approach for watches up to maybe 3o years old, when there is a possibility that the watch concerned is closely linked to current models, but I cannot understand them in effect destroying part of their own military heritage.
Good decision on your part. it might take some time to source any parts needed, but at the end of the process you will undoubtedly need to spend a lot less and as a bonus the value of your watch, both monetary and in terms of collectability, will be greater.
I'd send it to John Senior. I bought a Smiths W10 from him a while ago and it was pleasure doing business with him.
Another thumbs up for John Senior.
The whole experience of dealing with John is amazing.
Thanks Michael
I'm sure iwc would do a brilliant job and send you back a watch that looked very close to the way it did when it was new.....Having got rid of every bit of character the watch has.
Glad to hear that there are people willing to restore the important bits while leaving the character.
Yes, I can't wait till I get my watch back..untouched!
It's actually working fine, approximately a minute of per day.. to much for the MK XI,but not bad for a watch I know has not had a service in at least 30 years.
When I have it back I'll look for a good watchmaker, first I'll look in the Netherlands, if that doesn't work out i'll give John Senior a try.
On a different subject. I'm expecting a Seiko SBDC007 Shogun in the mail in a couple of days, bought from 'Blueteammassive'. I'm already enjoying the anticipation.
regards,
Reinold
- - - Updated - - -
Yes, I can't wait till I get my watch back..untouched!
It's actually working fine, approximately a minute of per day.. to much for the MK XI,but not bad for a watch I know has not had a service in at least 30 years.
When I have it back I'll look for a good watchmaker, first I'll look in the Netherlands, if that doesn't work out i'll give John Senior a try.
On a different subject. I'm expecting a Seiko SBDC007 Shogun in the mail in a couple of days, bought from 'Blueteammassive'. I'm already enjoying the anticipation.
regards,
Reinold
I sent John my IWC mark XI this week. It's £145 for a mark XI service.
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