This is an early Borgel case with a beautiful IWC calibre 64 movement inside.
The case measures 33.5mm, with a 14mm lug width. The case is marked FB (Francois Borgel) and CN (Stauffer Son & Co, Charles Nicolet). The case is hallmarked by Chester assay office with the date letter for 1912/13.
 
Charles Nicolet was a partner of Stauffer & Co., the London branch of the Swiss firm, which had their main base in the famous La Chaux-de-Fonds region.
 
The case was developed by Borgel, a well-known and respected case maker, famous for this exact case design. The crown is pull out to allow to front section of the watch to un-screw via the bezel. This section contains the movement, dial, hands, bezel and crystal. There are two holes, one for the winding stem and one for the pin push hand setting. 
The case has a tube, projecting from the case with the winding crown mounted on the end, a carry-over from the pocket watch era. This allows the stems removal for disassembly too. 
This case design was revolutionary in its water-resistant abilities in this early era for the wristwatch. 
 
The case back is made of 18ct gold and is a solid design. It’s in good condition with the only surface scratches. Inside, the case is marked FB (Francois Borgel) and CN (Stauffer Son & Co, Charles Nicolet). The case is hallmarked as 18ct gold by Chester assay office with the date letter for 1912/13.
 
The white enamel dial has black Arabic numerals with subsidiary seconds at 6 O’clock. The hands are thermally blued, of spade and whip style. The dial is signed IWC Shaffhausen above the centre.
 
The crown is original and is gold tone. It has a beautiful finish with no marks. It functions as it should, winding the watch. To set the hands, the pin is pressed and held in, do not pull out the crown, the watch is not a stem set. 
 
The movement is an original calibre 64 from IWC. This iconic calibre was used in all IWC wrist watches prior to 1915. It is signed S&Co for Stauffer and Co, the UK importer of IWC. The serial number is 622140. It is signed IWC under the dial side, with the patent no. 31457 under the dial side, which relates to a device for limiting the winding of the watch movement barrel. This was important as it stopped the mainspring being fully wound, eliminating the peak force that occurs is it is wound tight. 
 
The service history of the watch is not known, and the watch has not been serviced by us. 
It has a daily loss of -90 seconds a day, with an amplitude of 190 degrees and a beat error of 2.1 m/s.
 
The strap is a new dark brown, good quality leather strap, which is for fixed lugs. It is in good condition and will fit up to an 8” wrist diameter. 
 
Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
 
Dial: 
The enamel dial is original and is in good condition. The enamel is free of any unsightly cracking or chips. There is one hairline fracture from 3 O’clock to the sub-second dial.
 
Of classic early trench watch style, the rail road style minute track runs around the exterior of the watch, with an inset sub-second track at 6 O’clock. The numerals Arabic style and are clean with no lume in-fill. The dial is signed IWC Shaffhausen below 12 O’clock.
 
Hands: 
The hands are original, and they are in good condition. They are of Spade & Whip style with thermally blued finish. All hands meet the margins of the dial as they should.
 
Glass: 
The crystal is a well-matched replacement which is in very good condition.
 
Crown: 
The crown is original and is gold tone. It has a beautiful finish with no marks. It functions as it should, winding the watch. To set the hands, the pin is pressed and held in, do not pull out the crown, the watch is not a stem set. 
 
Case:
The case was developed by Borgel, a well-known and respected case maker, famous for this exact case design. The crown is pull out to allow to front section of the watch to un-screw via the bezel. This section contains the movement, dial, hands, bezel and crystal. There are two holes, one for the winding stem and one for the pin push hand setting. 
The case has a tube, projecting from the case with the winding crown mounted on the end, a carry-over from the pocket watch era. This allows the stems removal for disassembly too. 
This case design was revolutionary in its water-resistant abilities in this early era for the wristwatch. 
 
Caseback:
The case back is made of 18ct gold and is a solid design. It’s in good condition with the only surface scratches. Inside, the case is marked FB (Francois Borgel) and CN (Stauffer Son & Co, Charles Nicolet). The case is hallmarked as 18ct gold by Chester assay office with the date letter for 1912/13.
 
Strap: 
The strap is a new dark brown, good quality leather strap, which is for fixed lugs. It is in good condition and will fit up to an 8” wrist diameter. 
 
Movement: 
The movement is an original calibre 64 from IWC. This iconic calibre was used in all IWC wrist watches prior to 1915. It is signed S&Co for Stauffer and Co, the UK importer of IWC. The serial number is 622140. It is signed IWC under the dial side, with the patent no. 31457 under the dial side, which relates to a device for limiting the winding of the watch movement barrel. This was important as it stopped the mainspring being fully wound, eliminating the peak force that occurs is it is wound tight. 
 
The service history of the watch is not known, and the watch has not been serviced by us. It has a daily loss of -90 seconds a day, with an amplitude of 190 degrees and a beat error of 2.1 m/s.
 
Case dimensions: 
Case width: 33.5mm 
Case width with crown: 39mm 
Case length: 33.5mm 
Case length lug to lug: 37mm 
Case Depth: 8.25mm 
Lug width: 15mm