SteveW
204
Out of more that 100 watches which passed through my hands...
...this is the only one with Romans. Bought because of its beautiful gold dial. I think the 18K case was originally matte finished and is quite heavy.
I still own it but probably have only worn it two or three times in the last 15 years, I'm a scruffy sort of guy who can't really carry off gold so well. It's Reference 814, movement Cal 8541A dating from around 1975 according to the serial.
It's a good example of the tendency of the Swiss watch industry to pretend that a dial must attempt to show all the numerals, even if they are cut off by other dial structures: the horizontal black line shown above the date window in this picture is supposed to be the base of the Roman III. I am used to this habit and even quite like it but it infuriates many other watch collectors.
As with most IWC watches using 85xx movements, you only have to move it an inch or two to start it ticking even when fully stopped.
I wish I could....
But, no roman Eternas in my watch box... That is a beautiful dial of yours! :) Best Blomman
Out of more that 100 watches which passed through my hands...
...this is the only one with Romans. Bought because of its beautiful gold dial. I think the 18K case was originally matte finished and is quite heavy. I still own it but probably have only worn it two or three times in the last 15 years, I'm a scruffy sor...
the three!
i don't know that i would have noticed had you not mentioned it. that is interesting! i enjoy quirks like that though. makes life more fascinating.
I've always been interested in this one ...
Do you think it unbalances the dial, adds interest or is the IIII an unnecessary flourish in watch dials? Great watch, by the way. Andrew
IV
i have, along with most other collectors, noticed the use of IIII instead of IV, but i've never really known the reason. quaintness? superstition? obscure swiss law?
IIII
supposedly makes the dial more balanced when compared to the opposing VIII AFAIK. :)
