Aside from the fact that this super-rare artifact is familiar to every military watch collector, its disproportionate size and arrow indexing with a surrounding railway minute track attest to its military use and naval origin. Furthermore, the vivid images reveal that this rare piece was once—like all other naval deck watches/observation watches—signed "KM."
This signature was obviously removed during the denazification process, but is still clearly visible in the illuminated mode as a dark shadow in the exact place where the "KM" signature should be.
The oversized IWC Caliber 67 observation watch with arrow index and railway minute track was also developed specifically for the Kriegsmarine during the war. There was never a civilian version (and certainly not one with a luminous dial), as the denazified absence of the "KM" might suggest at first glance.
Exactly 1,000 of the Kriegsmarine's IWC observation watch with luminous dial were produced for the U-boat force (there were actually just under 1,000 U-boats, or at least that's how many were planned until the "final victory"). According to the IWC Museum, these were delivered to the Kriegsmarine by Gerl & Schipper in Cologne between September 7 and November 8, 1944.
Considering that 67.5% of all German submarines - and thus their "IWC luminous numeral example" - were sunk and destroyed, only 325 examples could have survived World War II.
After a certain loss due to loss in inheritance, disposal due to ignorance, etc. in the last 80 years, it can be assumed that today a maximum of 250 pieces of this museum artifact of military watch history still exist worldwide.
The museum artifact of this offer is therefore the rarest military watch not only from IWC but also from the Kriegsmarine in World War II.
As mentioned, this model features a very, very rare luminous dial, which was only common in the Kriegsmarine during World War II. It only glows brightly for 20 seconds and then very dimly for a longer period, but it definitely still works (see poor photo, but I had to run back into the darkness for another 20 seconds from the light switch...)
Description:
IWC, International Watch Co., Schaffhausen, observation watch / deck watch with luminous dial and former "KM" signature ("KM" for Kriegsmarine)
World War II Kriegsmarine, manufactured in 1943, Cal. 67, 18 ligne, H5, smooth case with push back, luminous dial with Arabic numerals, small second, blued hands, white bridge movement with anchor escapement, compensation balance, Breguet hairspring and high-quality swan-neck fine adjustment,
Case diameter: 57 mm, this magnificent piece of (military) watch history runs continuously (accuracy not tested)
EZ: 2 - best condition considering its age, few signs of age and wear, dial unrestored, flawless and luminous, but not for long, clock runs, all lids close tightly and flush
