{"product_id":"1962-international-watch-co-ref-r-647a-iwc-cal-8531-in-near-mint-condition-automatic-large-wristwatch","title":"1962 International watch co Ref. R 647A - Iwc Cal.8531  in near Mint condition automatic large wristwatch","description":"\u003cdiv id=\"thewatch\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThis Watch\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere we have a beautifully curvaceous 1962 IWC Automatic Cal. 8531 “Calatrava”, reference R 647A — a particularly desirable example thanks to its rarer “Jumbo” 36.5mm stainless-steel case. The case is a masterclass in early-60s IWC restraint: brushed and polished finishing throughout, slim polished bezel, and those wonderfully curved, drilled lugs that help it sit flat and comfortable on the wrist. Measurements are 43mm lug-to-lug and approximately 10.5mm thick, with a neat unsigned crown for easy grip which in our opinion is original as not all were signed on these earlier pieces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUp top, a domed crystal (with cyclops magnification) draws the eye to a crisp sunburst silver dial. An outer ring of minute pips frames applied, faceted baton hour markers that catch the light as you move your wrist, while elegant slim Dauphine hands and a tapered seconds hand keep everything sharp and dressy. At 3 o’clock, a framed date window adds everyday practicality without disturbing the symmetry, while the dial is signed in IWC’s distinctive script and finished with “Automatic” above 6.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInside is IWC’s Calibre 8531 (21 jewels), featuring the brand’s celebrated Pellaton winding system — Albert Pellaton’s 1950 innovation that efficiently converts the rotor’s bi-directional motion into stored energy at the mainspring. The watch is paired with a well-suited aftermarket 18mm leather strap and pin buckle.\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/6187\/6838\/files\/1967-tiffany-co-featuring-iwc-calendar-watch-491089_58693d01-a5cb-4630-abc8-d674c49b29a6.jpg?v=1770227367\" alt=\"\" width=\"368\" height=\"406\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eExtra Points\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"personalnote\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn 1867 Florentine applied for a European passport with the dream of creating watches using the American system of Watchmaking. This system was taken from the Federal Armories at Springfield and Harpers Ferry. Where armaments needed high precision interchangeable parts. This was perfect to use in watchmaking and Florentine was a pioneer in introducing it to the Swiss. In 1868 Florentine and Charles Kidder ended up in Schaffhausen Switzerland. Originally called the company F. A Jones \u0026amp; Co which was later changed to IWC International Watch Company. In 1876 Florentine returned to the USA where he retired and sadly passed away in 1916. The spirit which he spent a lifetime perfecting carries on today in the modern IWC watches.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eThis watch has been fully serviced in our on-site workshop and comes with our 12 month, non-waterproof service cover.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"personalnote\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat we think\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is one of those IWC’s that quietly makes a lot of “obvious” modern watches look a bit shouty. In the metal it’s all about restraint: a clean, sunburst silver Calatrava-style dial, sharp applied batons, and elegant Dauphine hands that catch the light without ever turning flashy. Then there’s the case—at 36.5mm it’s a rare “jumbo” size for the early 1960s, and that extra presence (plus the gently curved, drilled lugs) makes it wear far more like a contemporary daily watch than most vintage dress pieces. Add the framed date with cyclops at 3 o’clock and you get that satisfying “calendar watch” practicality, but executed in a very IWC way—understated, architectural, and brilliantly legible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition matters hugely with these, and this example being near-mint is a big deal. With vintage IWC, crisp case lines and a clean, correctly aged dial are everything; when they’re right, the watch feels expensive in a way that photos don’t always capture. This one has that “kept, not merely owned” vibe—exactly what you want in a 1960s automatic dress watch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a value-for-money angle, it stacks up surprisingly well against the obvious alternative in this size\/date bracket: the Rolex Datejust 36. A modern Datejust 36 (ref. 126200) sits around the mid-£6k range at retail, while a fluted\/Jubilee-style Datejust (ref. 126234) is typically around the low-£8k mark.\u003cbr\u003eThe Datejust is an icon (and the market treats it that way), but you’re also paying for that recognition and liquidity. This IWC offers a different kind of appeal: rarer on the wrist, more “insider” than status symbol, and powered by one of IWC’s most historically important automatic families—the Pellaton-winding era that collectors genuinely care about. In other words: if you want the best watch rather than the most recognised watch, this is a very persuasive argument.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt’s also worth sanity-checking it against modern IWC pricing, because that’s where the value really lands. Today, getting into a new IWC with automatic + date typically starts around the £4k–£5k level (for example a Portofino Automatic 40 at £4,300, or a Pilot’s Watch Mark XX around £4,800 depending on spec).\u003cbr\u003eThat’s for a current-production watch (with warranty and modern water resistance expectations), but it does put this 1962 piece into perspective: you’re getting near-mint condition, a genuinely collectible “jumbo” vintage case, and a landmark IWC automatic architecture—often for money that sits uncomfortably close to (or below) the cost of a brand-new entry-level IWC, and materially less than a new Datejust.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNet: if you like classic design, want a true early automatic calendar from a top-tier manufacture, and you’d rather have something quietly special than universally recognisable, this is a seriously compelling buy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"specification\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpec Stuff\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRef :\u003c\/strong\u003eR 647A\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSerial :\u003c\/strong\u003e 1942####\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMovement :\u003c\/strong\u003e Automatic IWC Cal. 8531\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAge : \u003c\/strong\u003e1961\/1970\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecific Age : \u003c\/strong\u003eCirca 1962\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCase Size : \u003c\/strong\u003e 36.5mm\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCase Thickness : \u003c\/strong\u003e10.5mm\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLug to Lug : \u003c\/strong\u003e43mm\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLugs :\u003c\/strong\u003e 18mm\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCondition :\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Pre-Owned\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBox \u0026amp; Papers :\u003c\/strong\u003e No\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCase Material :\u003c\/strong\u003e Stainless steel\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eService History :\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"IWC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57194609672566,"sku":"AWCIWC5080","price":2650.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/6187\/6838\/files\/DSC_4547.png?v=1770164125","url":"https:\/\/antiquewatchuk.co.uk\/products\/1962-international-watch-co-ref-r-647a-iwc-cal-8531-in-near-mint-condition-automatic-large-wristwatch","provider":"Antique Watch Co","version":"1.0","type":"link"}