IWC early Low-beat 5002 Big Pilot variation?

[rolojack]

Has anyone seen a all polished caseback like this one before? Back of the lugs are mirror polished and the outer area of the cb as well instead of brushed finish.... Note also the straight serial engraving instead of the usual circular one... You can see more on the bay :

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IWC-Big-Pilot-5002-Automatic-7-Day-Power-Reserve-Steel-leather-deployment-/110982651827?_trksid=p5197.m1992&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D14%26meid%3D4008717568318370854%26pid%3D100015%26prg%3D1006%26rk%3D1%26sd%3D110982651827%26

 

Now, question is what year is this watch? IWC started production of the 5002 in 2002, right? And I have pics of 2002 and 2003 models with the usual brushed finish and the circular sn. So I'm a bit lost here, because this watch is gen ! So was there an "early" 2002 variant? Or was it simply repolished to the owner's specs.

 

If it a rare early factory finish, I'm thinking of modding one BP from andrew to these specs... I hate this poorly engraved "2958508", and that would be the opportunity to do something different !

 

Cheers !!!

[rolojack]

Has anyone seen this watch before ?

[markiemark]

Hmm I have seen quite a few BPs, both gen and rep but never seen anything like this. I think it was polished to the owners specs (If that's even possible). Or he had it done someplace else.

Maybe you can contact them at sales@priceless-shine.com and pretend that youre interested, but affraid that its a rep and that you hate reps

[rolojack]

Interesting.... So it must be rep, but the hands tells otherwise (we all know dial can easely be changed)... And if it's a rep, how come we've never seen this before? I'm still thinking there might be some "early series" difference. I will contact them and ask.

[markiemark]

Interesting.... So it must be rep, but the hands tells otherwise (we all know dial can easely be changed)... And if it's a rep, how come we've never seen this before? I'm still thinking there might be some "early series" difference. I will contact them and ask.

 

Not sure if it's supposed to be like that, butt he date is aligned to the right...

[rolojack]

I've seen non aligned date on a gen once : so that's not a tell in my opinion. But I've never seen gen hands fitted on a non IWC calibre so far. Since those hands are real, that's what makes me believe the movement and therefore the whole watch is. That thing really puzzles me !!!! No reply from the seller so far...