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IWC wristwatch, ref. 9503, Ingenieur Sl Jumbo Automatic Diamonds, Made in 1982 — view 1 of 3
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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

IWC wristwatch, ref. 9503, Ingenieur Sl Jumbo Automatic Diamonds, Made in 1982

DocumentedDocumented from an auction catalogue; attribution as stated by the auction house.
Maker / attribution
IWC (brand / maker)
Date
Made in 1982
Country of origin
Switzerland
Object type
Wristwatch
Materials / technique
18k yellow gold
Dimensions
diameter 40 mm
Lot
Lot 364-30
Credit line
Auction lot record: LOT 30, Geneva, November 4-5, 2023
Catalogue title (original)
IWC, SWITZERLAND, REF. 9503, INGENIEUR SL JUMBO, AUTOMATIC DIAMONDS, YELLOW GOLD (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva (lot Lot 364-30), this is a wristwatch by IWC, made in Switzerland, dated Made in 1982. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: 18k yellow gold. Recorded dimensions: diameter 40 mm. The record is illustrated with 3 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

Antiquorum catalogue description

A fine and very rare, heavy 18k yellow gold, self winding jumbo tonneau-shaped, center- seconds, water-resistant, diamond-set wristwatch set with a total of 333 diamonds, instantaneous date.

Lot specifications (Antiquorum)

Model: Ingenieur SL Jumbo; Reference: 9503; Movement No.: 2149389; Case No.: 2259380; Bracelet: integral 18K yellow gold and diamond-set IWC link bracelet by Gay Freres with deployant clasp, approx. lenght 195 mm.; Caliber: 8541 B, rhodium-plated and oeil-de-perdrix decoration, 28 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to five positions, shock absorber, self-compensating flat balance-spring, micrometer regulator.; Diameter: 40 mm.; Signature: Dial, case and movement; Accessories: Original box

Inscriptions & marks

Dial, case and movement

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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