IWC Schaffhausen watches
The history of the IWC Schaffhausen brand
In 1868, the American watchmaker and businessman Florentine Ariosto Jones left Boston for Switzerland and founded the “International Watch Company” in Schaffhausen. His visionary dream is to combine modern American manufacturing technologies with the craftsmanship of Swiss watchmakers to create the best pocket timepieces of the era. In this way, it not only lays the foundation for IWC’s unique engineering approach, but also initiates the centralized production of mechanical watches in Switzerland.
In its 150-year history, IWC Schaffhausen has distinguished itself for being able to create functional, ingenious, robust and easy to use complications; in particular chronographs and calendars.
A pioneer in the use of titanium and ceramics, IWC specializes in the production of technological cases made with cutting-edge materials, such as titanium aluminide and Ceratanium®. By privileging the principle “form follows function” over aesthetics, the timeless creations of the Swiss manufacture embody the dreams and ambitions of the wearer.
In the new Manufakturzentrum, which opened in 2018, IWC Schaffhausen brings together the traditional watchmaking tradition with the most modern production methods and technologies. In the production of components and cases, the latest generation machineries guarantee maximum quality and precision. The assembly of the in-house movements, on the other hand, requires careful manual work. Only thanks to the expert hands of the watchmaker does the mechanical heart of the watch begin to beat.
IWC purchases materials responsibly and takes action to minimize the impact on the environment, creating inherently sustainable timepieces built to last generation after generation. The company is proud to train its future watchmakers and engineers and to offer an excellent working environment for all employees. IWC also collaborates with organizations that work for young people and children around the world.
The IWC style
Ever since its foundation IWC has proven its passion for the art of watchmaking with every one of its collections along with its innate pioneering spirit, both values that are found in its watches, whether to be worn every day, the sports watches and the ones with the most sophisticated complications on offer by any Watchmaker.
The IWC collections – Pilot’s Watches, Portugieser, Ingenieur, Aquatimer, Da Vinci and Portofino .- boast a long and lasting tradition: its engineers, over the course of the last four generations, have always been engaged in researching and making prototypes that could reflect IWC’s watchmaking expertise in all its different guises. To these celebrated collections one also has to add the special timepieces such as the Grande Complication and the IWC Vintage Collection.
The IWC Pilot watches collection
IWC’s Pilot Watches are famous for being very accurate, technically very advanced and with a cockpit style that has made them the aviator’s watch of choice.
They are inspired by the design of on board instrumentation, with luminous indicators on a very paired down dial with a black background and very visible hands and the large numbers which are still to this day classic elements found on aviator watches.
The IWC Portuguese collection: a style icon
The Portugieser is one of IWC’s oldest and most famous watches.
In the Thirties two Portuguese businessmen commissioned a wristwatch from IWC that was to have the accuracy of the Navy’s chronographs. Those “large wristwatches” turned the world of watchmaking on its head by contributing to the success of the large format that is so much appreciated today in this sector.
The design of the Portugieser collection features very large dials, sombre Arab numerals, thin sword hands and railroad minute design.
The IWC Portofino collection: unsurpassed elegance
For thirty years now it has stood as a guarantee of the success of the Schaffhausen production.
These timepieces hark back to the Seventies, when the Lépine pocket watch was first presented and became the point of reference for this line of watches.
The Portofino collection stands out for its very paired down and classical lines, a design that, in the 38 mm version, is perfectly suited even for a woman’s wrist.
The Ingenieur collection
The Ingenieur collection of watches embodies IWC’s passion for technology and innovation. Since 1995 the Ingenieur’s unmatchable design has stood out for its rugged sporting look and its fascination with technology.
The sporting style is underlined by the materials used, which are usually employed in car racing, like ceramics and titanium.
The Aquatimer collection
A collection that accompanies everyone who loves to meet the challenges posed by oceans and seas.
IWC Schaffhausen has over 50 years’ experience in the development and production of professional underwater watches.
The new Aquatimer collection has a bracelet quick-change system (an IWC patent) that makes changing from the steel bracelet to the rubber strap or vice versa extremely simple.
Maintenance
A clock has an internal mechanism that is made up of many cogs that are constantly moving and coming into contact. Every IWC watch is carefully assembled by expert watchmakers, then deeply inspected and tested to ensure it meets demanding requirements concerning quality and precision. By registering to My IWC, it is possible to extend the International Limited Warranty to 6 years compared to the standard 2 years.
