Why This Watch Matters

Good old Albert Pellaton graces us with his work once again.

The Full Story

IWC is a brand we feel is still a bit under-the-radar relative to others in the vintage world, so we're pleased to offer this dress watch from the 1960s today. These simple, automatic IWC dress watches offer a ton of design chops and are often found in larger water-resistant cases. The ref. 804A we have here hits a lot of high notes with a clean overall aesthetic, a beads-of-rice-style bracelet, and much, much more.

The caliber 8541 ticking inside is based on the brand's proprietary Pellaton automatic winding system, developed by Albert Pellaton in 1950. This new self-winding architecture was considered revolutionary for its time, as it allowed energy to be transferred from the bi-directional rotor to the mainspring, a considerably more efficient solution compared to other self-winding movements of the era. Nearly 70 years since its creation, variations of the Pellaton self-winding system are still in use today in some modern IWC creations.

The Fine Print

Maker: IWC
Model: N/A
Reference: 804A
Year: 1960s
Case No: 1876082
Movement No: 1872082
Material: Stainless steel
Dimensions: 36mm diameter; 9.75mm thickness
Crystal: Plexiglass
Lume: No
Caliber: IWC, self-winding, caliber 8541
Bracelet/Strap: IWC, stainless steel, bracelet (Approximate max wrist size 7.0in / 178mm)
Lug Width: 18mm
Box/Papers: No

What We Love And What You Should Know

Things We Love:

- Larger case size
- Fish logo on crown
- "Non-lume" dial and hands
- IWC bracelet

Things To Know:

- Scratches on case and bracelet

The watch is in overall excellent, honest condition. The case is strong with sharp lines on the bezel and lugs. There are some light scratches and indentations on the case, notably on the caseback, something most likely caused from the case being opened. There are a few scratches on the top of the lugs.

The silver dial has developed a light patina throughout. The dial has a few tiny marks that are difficult to spot without a loupe. The very center of the dial has a couple small scratches that are covered by the hands at any given time. The hour markers and hands have developed some patina and match very nicely. The border of the date window has a bit of wear around the edges.

The watch has retained its IWC "fish" crown. The crystal has some scratches. The bracelet is in good condition with some scratches and areas of imperfection. There is a bit of stretch between the links, but it wears tight. The dial, case, crown, movement, and bracelet clasp are signed by IWC. This watch was photographed on a 175mm/6.9inch wrist.

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