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| Unmistakable originals of chronometry are the undisputed specialty of the IWC Schaffhausen watch factory in Schaffhausen, Switzerland: the famous "Da Vinci", with its perpetual calendar, is just one example. These naturally included the first "Grande Complication" for the wrist, but also the super-antimagnetic "Ingenieur" and the divers watches, which are capable of withstanding water pressure even down to a depth of 2000 metres. From IWC come the professional "Pilots watches". Equally unsurpassed are the exquisite pocket watches, which have been built at IWC since the year of its foundation in 1868.
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It was no accident that an American engineer from Boston, Florentine Ariosto Jones, established the "International Watch Co." in Schaffhausen of all places in the year 1868. The factory on the Rhine - situated far from the watch-making centres of West Switzerland - is indebted to this American for its name and its existence. There he found a newly constructed hydroelectric power station for his machines. He also found watchmakers whose profession already had a long tradition in Schaffhausen. The State Archives in Schaffhausen include an entry dated 29 January 1583 relating to the Guild of Pyrotechnicians, Gunsmiths, Watchmakers and Hoistmakers to the City Council. This proves that the watch-makers trade must already have existed in Schaffhausen at the time.
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Originals of chronometry appeared soon after the company was established, for example in 1885 the Pallweber system pocket-watch with its digital display, today a sought-after collectors item. At the end of the 19th century, IWC was one of the first watch manufacturers to recognize the potential of the new and increasingly fashionable wristwatch, for which it developed entirely new movements.
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IWC was involved when watches had to learn to fly with the pioneers of aviation and today offers a comprehensive range of professional pilots’ watches, which are fitted with special protection against magnetic fields. In the 1950s, the company led the competition in the race to introduce the first automatic movements and also developed the Pellaton winding mechanism with an unsurpassed winding system.
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IWS remains the only watch factory in East Switzerland to this day. It is precisely for this reason that the factory regards the need to ensure a qualified succession in the manufacture of mechanical watches as both a commitment and a passion. Apprentice training leading to the Federal Final Diploma as Horloger complet has been the performance standard at IWC since 1950. This led the company to set up their own training centre in 1968 with capacity for 15 Apprentices and two advanced training places.
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In the severe turbulence in the Swiss watch industry at the end of the seventies under its inspired manager, Gunter Blumlein, this is the period in Schaffhausen when the points were set, to take the company onto the track of mechanical watches, innovation and technically exacting men’s watches. And from this conception grew the eye-catching advertising message: "IWC. Since 1868. And for as long as there are men." Because men’s watches have also been a subject of interest to women for a long time.
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The craft perfection, the training of its specialists, the renunciation of mass-market products: all of these are in keeping with the old-established principle of IWC. To make watches for small numbers of people, but watches of the highest quality. That is also the reason why, if carefully maintained, their watches last for decades. And why today they are rare items, which fetch collectors’ prices throughout the world.
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Worldofluxuryus.com is proud to offer large selection of IWC watches including the Aquatimer, Da Vinci, Grande Complication, Ingenieur, Pilot, Pocket, Portofino, Portuguese and Vintage models.
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