1955 IWC Automatic Pellaton Automatic watch in a 35mm stainless steel case with a clear silver dial. This particular watch has the Pellaton winding system. This system paved the way for IWC.
Pellaton hit upon a surprising solution:
instead of putting a ball bearing or cog at the centre of the rotor, he used a
heart-shaped, eccentrically bearing-mounted disc. The latter converts the
rotor’s revolutions into the to-and-fro movements of a rocking bar. The bar’s
rocking movements are then transmitted to the winding wheel by two pawls: while
one of them pulls the wheel (i.e. winds it), the other glides smoothly over the
top of it until the roles are reversed. The mechanism patented in 1950 is
unusually efficient. “The rotor’s smallest movement in either direction is used
to wind the mainspring,” explains Gäumann.
Even if the principle is simple enough, an
automatic winding system poses many different challenges for the design
engineers. On the one hand, the mechanism must function perfectly for a wide
range of wearers with different habits and lifestyles. On the other, the
automatic sub-assembly is exposed to more wear and tear than most other parts
in the movement. In the new 52850 calibre, for instance, the rotor has to
complete 2600 revolutions to fully wind the two barrels in the Portugieser
Annual Calendar. Although the rotor weighs just less than five grams, the
forces exerted on the components during rapid movements may be as much as 5000
times that of gravity. Protecting the oscillating system against wear and tear,
therefore, merits special attention.
Movement: Automatic C852
This particular beauty is having an even
patina dial which reflects a vintage taste of an IWC Iconic watch in early stage of automatic watches
It comes with an original certificate (warranty)
A real collectible item if you are a fan of
IWC watches
HK Snob
