IWC FS: Mint & rare vintage IWC ref 5251 closed back ‘Original Portofino’or ‘fried egg’

because of formatting issues, please see my first comment below. thanks ------------------- Up for sale from my collection is a Mint & Rare IWC ref 5251 closed back ‘Original Portofino’or ‘fried egg’ or ‘spiegelei’ in German. The iconic ref 5251 requires no introduction to IWC fans. It has an enamel dial, a brilliant moonphase and stars, Roman numerals paired with Breguet hands, and measures a large 46mm. Interestingly, the moonphase counter is a tad smaller than the seconds counter, swept by a gold-tailed seconds-hand. The many subtle hallmarks of this brilliant design has enthralled collectors of decades. There are two (established) versions of ref 5251 - both in yellow gold: one with a solid gold back, and the other a display back. Production first began in 1980 of the (rarer) closed back version, and both versions ceased (I believe) around 1998. Total production of both versions is estimated to be around 300, with this rarer closed back version a small fraction of this number. The ref 5251 is today an iconic part of IWC's history, and to me, reflective of the 'big watch' thinking that is very much part of its DNA. For further reading and background of this piece, you may refer to: people.timezone.com

I am putting this up for sale because I also have the ref 5251 with a display back. This particular closed back piece is rarer than the display back piece, and through the case serial number is dated 1982. The diameter is 46mm, and thickness just over 10mm, as can be seen in the pics, and weighs in at 60 grams. The condition of this piece is 95%, chiefly due to scratches on the case - which can be polished off easily (but I had preferred to keep it in its purchased condition to retain its vintage quality) . The crystal and the enamel dial are in flawless condition, and the Calibre 95 is performing as expected: it keeps accurate time, and the quick-adjust of the moonphase executes perfectly (meaning when you move the hands back and forth 12 mid-night, from 10 pm to 2 am, you will be quick-adjusting the moonphase forwards). The original IWC box is included, as shown in the pics. The Warranty and Service location papers are however duplicates as the original papers were not salvageable owing to a previous owner’s maintainence. I am asking a very reasonable: Hong Kong (face to face deal): HKD 160,000* Singapore (face to face deal): SGD 27,700* Ship internationally**: USD 21,500* or best reasonable offer * Payment by bank wire transfer. ** I ship internationally to most cities, but at additional cost to the buyer. Shipping will be insured, and tracked, via DHL (insured limit: 6,000 USD). I can arrange additional insurance through Parcel Pro, but again buyer will bear all cost (which I estimate to be approximately 500-800 USD). If you have any other suggestions how the watch can get to you, I am happy to hear it. I am a well known collector and have numerous references available from many cities. I may ask for yours if I don't know you. I'm happy to answer any questions just email me at iwcforme1976 at gmail dot com (no spaces). Thanks for looking. cheers, Shing