Vintage IWC Cal 402 Watch International Watch Co Schaffhausen R1419 Box Papers

SPECIFICATION

Reference: IWC 2403/R1419
Movement: Calibre 402 Manual winding
Age: Papers dated September 1969
Case Size: 33mm
Case Thickness: 8mm
Lug to Lug: 37mm
Lugs: 18mm
Condition: used IWC watch
Box & Papers: yes
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Warranty: 12-Months Warranty

 POINTS TO MENTION

• In great pre-owned condition, with light wear from use
• Case and bezel has some light scratches and marks
• Sunburst dial
• Roman numeral indices
• Comes with its box and papers
• Fully serviced manually wound movement
  
• Paired with the an unworn black epsom strap

 THE WATCH

The IWC R1419 is a vintage dress watch reference produced during the 1960s, with many surviving examples dating from around 1965–1969 this one is from 1969.  Manufactured in stainless steel and featured a compact 33mm case, which was typical for elegant Swiss dress watches of the period.

Many R1419 model is fitted with the hand-wound IWC Calibre 402 movement, a reliable and well-finished movement from IWC’s respected 40x family of calibres. The watch was designed with slim proportions and practical everyday wearability in mind, reflecting IWC’s restrained approach to watchmaking during the era.

The reference has a clean, minimalist dial featuring roman numeral hour markers and simple hands. It uses an acrylic (plexiglass) crystals rather than sapphire, contributing to the softer vintage appearance collectors often appreciate today.

Some R1419 watches are housed in rounded “C-shape” style cases, a design trend that became popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. However, not every R1419 example uses this exact case style, so it is better described as a variation rather than a defining feature of the reference.

Compared with more famous vintage IWC models such as the Ingenieur or Yacht Club, the R1419 remains relatively under the radar among collectors. This has helped it maintain comparatively accessible pricing while still offering the movement quality and finishing associated with vintage IWC watches from the period. Original, examples with untouched dials like this one are increasingly difficult to find because many were worn regularly rather than preserved as collector pieces.

A BIT OF TRIVIA

The heritage of IWC is deeply rooted in American pioneering spirit and entrepreneurship. Florentine Ariosto Jones, a watchmaker from Boston, founded the International Watch Company in 1868. He draws on the help of eminently qualified Swiss watchmakers, modern technology, and hydropower sourced from the nearby River Rhine to manufacture pocket watch movements of the highest possible quality. The Rauschenbachs, an industrialist family from Schaffhausen, took over the company following Jones’ return to the United States. During its early years, IWC produced pocket watches with a digital “Pallweber” display, as well as wristwatches for women and men.

Following the death of Johannes Rauschenbach-Schenk, Schaffhausen industrialist Ernst Jakob Homberger takes over the company. This era sees the birth of two watch families which are still true icons to this day. The first “Spezialuhr für Flieger” establishes the tradition of producing Pilot’s Watches in Schaffhausen, which, thanks to their unmistakable design, are still popular across the world today. As Portuguese importers order a series of large wristwatches with high-precision pocket watch calibres, the first Portugieser model leaves IWC’s workshops.

The post-war years are characterized by the increased use of technology in people’s everyday lives. More and more appliances create magnetic fields which can negatively impact the accuracy of mechanical watches. It is during this time that Albert Pellaton becomes Technical Director at IWC Schaffhausen. Among his inventions are the extremely accurate 89 calibre, or the soft-iron inner case, which protects watch movements against magnetic fields. He also develops a particularly efficient bidirectional pawl-winding system, which shoots to fame as the Pellaton winding system.

OUR THOUGHTS

The IWC R1419 with box and papers, what a rarity. It has quiet elegance that feels far more refined than many other dress watches. Its balanced proportions and clean dial design give it a timeless character that never looks dated. I especially appreciate how understated it is, with the quality revealing itself more the longer you spend with it. The hand-wound movement adds a satisfying sense of interaction and mechanical charm.