IWC Schaffhausen — Auto, Cal. 853
Vintage 1960s IWC automatic dress watch, International Watch Co Schaffhausen, calibre 853, IWC 853, Staybrite steel, original fish crown with pellaton winding.
A genuine, all-original example of IWC's celebrated Calibre 853 automatic, produced around 1961 in Schaffhausen, Switzerland.
This watch has never been polished and retains its original Staybrite stainless steel case in honest, unrestored condition — a rarity for a 60-year-old dress watch. The cream dial is signed "International Watch Co. Schaffhausen / Automatic" and displays the warm, natural patina that comes with age.
The gilt baton hour markers remain bright, and the hands are original and correct. The crowning detail for collectors: the watch retains its original IWC fish crown — the symbol IWC used from the 1950s onwards to denote water resistance. The fish crown is increasingly rare to find intact, as IWC no longer stocks them and serviced examples typically receive a replacement Probus Scafusia crown instead. Movement serial 1,598,344 dates the Cal. 853 to c.1960; case serial 1,621,694 (stamped inside the Staybrite caseback alongside the IWC medallion) dates the case to c.1961.
The legendary Pellaton bidirectional winding system — still cited as one of the finest automatic movements ever produced in Switzerland — is visible through the open caseback and presents cleanly. The movement has not been recently serviced and is sold as-is.
Movement: IWC Cal. 853 · Pellaton automatic winding · 21 jewels · Breguet overcoil hairspring
Case: Staybrite stainless steel · ~35mm diameter · 18mm lug width
Crystal: Original acrylic
Dial: Cream/champagne, natural patina, original and unrestored
Crown: Original IWC fish crown
Strap: Black leather
Serials: Movement 1,598,344 · Case 1,621,694
