IWC Watches

The genesis of this beautiful watch collection was initiated by Florentine Ariosto Jones. He was an American engineer and a watchmaker who decided to travel to Switzerland and then established the "International Watch Company" in 1868.

Prior to this establishment, Jones worked for the notable Boston watch firm, E. Howard Watch and Clock Co. In his twenties itself, Jones had already progressed to become deputy director and manager of the company IWC. Still, with a heart full of ambition, he wanted to start his own watch manufacture.

During that period, the men who sought fortune headed towards westward, but unlike others, Jones's idea for his new venture led him overseas. His sole purpose in watchmaking was to attain new heights by merging the state-of-the-art American technology along with time-tested Swiss craftsmanship into IWC watches.

Thus Jones was off to Switzerland which bought him all the latest and greatest machinery in modern watch manufacturing. And next to all that he required was - to assemble a group of people who were experts in Swiss watchmaking and then look for a suitable place for the establishment of IWC's headquarters.

Settlement of IWC in Schaffhausen

Jones faced a hard time during his stay in western Switzerland, as the well-established watchmakers of the region were skeptical about his unorthodox business plan and decided not to work with him.

But with his persisted ambition, he found the support in the northern Schaffhausen area and one of the early supporters of Jones was an experienced pocket watch manufacturer named Johann Heinrich Moser.

Jones required a plentiful source of electricity so as to run his high-tech equipment. He acquired this from Moser’s recently established hydraulic plant which was powered by the nearby Rhine River that reliably provided electricity to the local businesses. And this is how the International Watch Company found its home in Schaffhausen.

Although several years later IWC moved from the Moser Industrial Complex and began its own factory. This factory which was built in Baumgarten still remains the company’s headquarters to this day.

Now let’s take a look at some of the IWC watch models

IWC Portuguese

The IWC Portuguese is a watch with many faces and reflects the long tradition of the Schaffhausen manufacturer. The line was first born in 1939 with the Ref. 325 and was an inspiration for succeeding generations of Portuguese watches. After the 30s Portuguese watch, in 1993 IWC introduced a limited-edition in the Portuguese line and since then these IWC Portuguese chronograph models were released with a number of watch achievements and always blend with the feature of being elegant, big and eye-catching.

In 2014 the IWC celebrated its 75th anniversary of the IWC Portuguese Collection and introduced some of its references like Portuguese Annual Calendar IW503501, the Portuguese Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month IW397201 and the Portuguese Hand-Wound Eight Days IW510205.

IWC Big Pilot

This IWC Big Pilot watch should be named as Pilot's Superwatch. It leaves quite an impression not only because of its large case size but also because of its interior which is made in Schaffhausen. IWC Big Pilot first model was introduced in the early 1940 and it was created specifically for military purposes which is still evident in the current models. Its automatic mechanism for 7 days and Pellaton winding system along with its imperturbable strength has no equal. The smallest calibers of this IWC Big Pilot watch remains faithful to its thematic origin and shine with its functional time reduction which is strictly necessary for the watch.

IWC Pilot

The production of this IWC Pilot watches took place in the mid-1930s for civil aviation purposes. It comes with the function of being anti-magnetic and is resistant to fluctuations in temperature ranging from – 40 degrees Celsius to + 40 degrees Celsius. Its present series of IWC consists of the IWC Double Chronograph, the IWC Chronograph Automatic, the IWC UTC and the IWC Mark XVI. This is available in black or silver color with its hour hand, minute hand, and the dial covered with a luminescent mixture to facilitate a night vision.

IWC Portofino

The timeless elegance of this IWC Portofino is austere yet beautiful. This watch’s production was done during the 1970s. Its robust mechanism with self-winding is capable of reserving 42-hour running time and its case is impermeable up to 30 meters. Thus it is that one dress watch which can be a stylized, discreet and a reliable companion.

IWC Aquatimer

The IWC Aquatimer is the dive watch from IWC Schaffhausen. This IWC dive watch collection is admired not only by the divers but it is also one of the watches which attract those who are looking for a touch of elegance and a dash of timeless design. The IWC Aquatimer watch was launched in 1967 and since then it has been a timepiece which is fascinating worldwide with its elaborated features which include the external/internal rotating bezel, the mechanical depth gauge, and the split minute hand.

Thus with the wide range in the watch collection provided by the IWC, now you can pick your own style and blend it with your personality.