
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
IWC Automatic Dress Watch 18K YG (Ref. 1827) 'Cal. 8541B', 1970s
- Maker / attribution
- IWC (maker)
- Date
- 1970s
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Dimensions
- Case 33.5 mm
- Stock no.
- IWCDW1827
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (IWCDW1827)
- Catalogue title (original)
- 1970s IWC Automatic Dress Watch 18K YG (Ref. 1827) 'Cal. 8541B' (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number IWCDW1827), this is a wristwatch by IWC, made in Switzerland, dated 1970s. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 33.5 mm. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Craft & Tailored
Founded more than 150 years ago, the International Watch Company has grown to become one of the most recognizable Swiss watch brands on the planet. And one of the things they're especially famous for is their caliber 85 movement, which is widely regarded as one of the finest watch movements ever made. The cal. 85 was introduced in the 1950s and was the second automatic movement the brand ever made – it was also their first automatic movement with central seconds. That movement went on to birth multiple subsequent versions, including the cal. 852, 853, 854, and finally the 8541B, which beats inside this ref. 1827. In addition to the iconic movement, this particular IWC Automatic features a stout 33.5mm cushion-style case in 18k gold with a lightly brushed finish and a matching dial with onyx inlays in the hour markers. It's an elevated take on an already-unforgettable style, and one that will make a statement in any situation. SPECS Stock # IWCDW1827 Brand IWC Style Automatic Dress Watch Model 1827 Serial 21XXXXX Size Men's Material Stainless Steel Dial 18K Yellow Gold Millimeters 33.5 Bracelet 2pc Handmade Leather Strap CASE & BRACELET The excellent 18k yellow gold cushion-style case displays crisp edges and strong finishing throughout, with honest wear and nominal evidence of prior polishing present. The case retains its original IWC "fish logo" crown. The case back shows some minor watchmaking marks but is otherwise clean. The watch comes supplied on a two-piece handmade leather strap. DIAL & HANDS The gold sunburst dial is simply gorgeous with almost no signs of wear or age, and an applied IWC logo at 12 o'clock. The markers feature black onyx inlays that pop beautifully off the metallic gold dial. The tritium lume plots on the dial and within the hands have inlaid lume that has aged to a perfectly matching creamy color and exhibit no notable degradation when inspected under UV light. ACCESSORIES
Historical context
Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.
Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology
Atlas type guide
Automatic (self-winding) watches
Self-winding watches use the wearer's motion to wind the mainspring. Abraham-Louis Perrelet and Breguet made 'perpétuelle' pocket watches with oscillating weights in the late eighteenth century, but the principle only became practical in the wristwatch. John Harwood patented a bumper automatic in 1923; Rolex's Perpetual rotor (1931) winding in one direction, and later bidirectional rotors (Eterna, Felsa Bidynator), established the modern form. Micro-rotors (Universal Genève, Buren) and peripheral rotors made automatic watches thinner.
What to look for
- A semicircular rotor turning 360° over the movement, or a 'bumper' weight that rebounds between springs.
- 'Automatic', 'Perpetual' or 'Self-winding' on the dial.
- A sealed screw-back case, since automatic watches are wound less often by the crown.
Dating clues
- Bumper automatics: 1923–c. 1955.
- Full rotors: from 1931 (Rolex); widespread after c. 1950.
- Micro-rotors: from 1954–1958.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
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