Vintage IWC (International Watch Company, Schaffhausen) Polo Club SL ref. 1831 – Serviced

IWC has long occupied a special place among watch manufacturers – a place that it owes to the values that its founder, Florentine Ariosto Jones, instilled back in 1868: fine engineering, foresight and innovation, and an excellent production system. As we are confident our photos will testify, the watch on offer here beautifully encapsulates those same values.
This ref. 1831 Polo Club SL dates to 1972, and it builds upon the foundations set by its iconic – not to mention immensely influential – predecessor, the Ingenieur. It is equipped with a 38 mm circular steel case topped by a smooth bezel and paired with a sturdy tapering integrated three-link bracelet, which connects to the case seamlessly via a set of hidden lugs. It wears exceedingly comfortably, lending the wrist a palpable and pleasant weight that comes as a bit of a surprise given its compact dimensions.
Since it’s a 70s sports watch, the Polo Club’s dial is straightforward and rather minimalistic, yet taking a closer look at it reveals that it’s just as masterfully crafted as the rest of the watch. It incorporates a delicate vertical texture that serves as the backdrop for a set of luminous applied indices and baton hands, whose otherwise flawless symmetry is tastefully disrupted by a date indicator at 3 o’clock.
When it comes to vintage watches, condition is king – that’s why we’re so proud of our present offering. It is in excellent condition both aesthetically and mechanically, with the case looking sharp and showing minimal scratching and the remarkable caliber 8541b movement within having just been thoroughly serviced by our very own in-house watchmaker. Please note that we had to permanently attach the bracelet to the case (by laser welding, visible from the back side, only if you know what to look for) on one side due to the previous owner’s irresponsible handling of the piece.

Covered by a limited warranty of 1 year.