IWC Luxury Watches or An American in Switzerland
The story of the International Watch Company IWC cannot be told in a few sentences. Many components are unique about it and its watch models. Firstly, the geographical location, far from the Swiss watchmaking metropolises in a peripheral region near the Rhine; secondly, the curious reversal of the trend prevailing 150 years ago, which attracted many emigrants from Europe to America, while the founder of the International Watch Company (IWC) left the States for what was then a low-wage country, Switzerland. With chutzpah and pioneering spirit, the engineer and watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones opted for a transcontinental cooperation: the watch specialists of Switzerland, his state-of-the-art machine technology imported from the USA, and the American“anything goes” mottowere to build a broad-based watchmaking empire. His decision to settle in Schaffhausen, the birthplace of watchmaking, had not only the practical consideration of harnessing the energy from the Rhine power plants, but also a hidden historical significance. As early as 1409, watches were being manufactured in the nearby Rheinau Monastery, and a "guild of pyrotechnicians, gunsmiths, watchmakers, and winch makers" was documented as early as 1583. In Schaffhausen, the legendary Habrecht watchmaking family created a large astronomical clock for Strasbourg Cathedral. Jones evidently had not only a feel for what was feasible, but also a sense of genius loci. Although he failed – not least because of the high import duties in the USA – and returned to the States, other owners and managing directors also struggled with the rising waves of the Rhine. But with the takeover by the Schaffhausen industrialist Johannes Rauschenbach in 1879, the wind changed. IWC's luck seemed to be on its side from then on; even the bombing raid on April 1, 1944, failed to destroy the IWC factory site. The upward trend continued into the middle of the 20th century. Even the quartz watch crisis of the 1970s and 1980s had only a minor impact on the IWC battleship. Under the leadership of Günter Blümlein, a company captain considered a genius, the company remained steadily on its successful course.
The IWC Crown Jewels
Today, highly sought-after IWC rarities command high to extremely high collector prices. The company's history is littered with milestones. Shortly after the company's founding, the Pallweber pocket watch astonished with its digital display of hours and minutes, and Albert Pellaton developed the automatic winding mechanism. With its innovative strength, the company recognized the future potential of wristwatches as early as the end of the 19th century and focused on its own movements. In the 1930s, original IWC pocket watch movements were incorporated into high-precision wristwatches. Ahead of their time were the Fliegeruhr XI from 1948, protected against magnetic fields, and its no less spectacular successors, which the British Air Force used for timekeeping. They were followed by the Flieger Chronograph and the seriesPorsche Design by IWDwith titanium watches such as the Ocean 2000 and the compass watch developed in 1978. The first titanium chronograph was launched in 1980. Not to be forgotten was the Da Vinci from 1985, a chronograph with many complications such as a perpetual calendar, tourbillon, and moon phase display. With the introduction of an exclusive rarity – theSchaffhausen warhorseorDestriero Scafusia– IWC celebrated its company anniversary in 1993. All 125 watches produced were snapped up within a very short time. Model names like Spitfire Chronograph, Large Pilot's Watch, Portuguese Perpetual Calendar, Rattrapante Chrono, and Portofino caught the attention of collectors and watch enthusiasts.
IWC – Long-lasting watch families for a few
IWC collections – families – are fond of taking up cultural-historical aspects. Watch history was written by the very first wristwatch withGrand Complication, the diving watches, water-resistant up to 2000 meters, inspired by the look of diving suits, the magnificent, the first watch with a digital display. TheIWC engineerfamily shines with its unique understatement in form. With its strong emphasis on functionality, it is preferred by virile wearers who embrace noble restraint.IWC Portuguese-family sees itself as a tribute to the great seafaring nation of Portugal.IWC Da VinciThe family pays tribute to the Tuscan universal genius Leonardo da Vinci, whose supposed flight engine turned out to be the original clockwork in the 1990s. Light-footed Italianità expresses theIWC Portofinofamily. They too represented a strong commitment to understatement, as from 1970 onwards, bold and sensational designer watches increasingly dominated the market. Clearly proportioned, but not without a decisive touch of extravagance. In 1967, IWC responded to the growing popularity of diving by developing diving watches in theAquatimerfamily, which experienced a celebrated revival in 2009. Since the first pilot's watch in 1936 until today, theIWC Pilot's Watch Familyanchored as a traditional and indispensable member of the company portfolio.
For macho men only?
The International Watch Company makes no secret of the fact that it builds its watches for the masculine, daring, and hands-on man. Robustness, technical complexity, and a sporty, powerful appearance make the brand unmistakably masculine. The award-winning IWC advertisement from the 1990s, "IWC watches - almost as complicated as women. But on time," earned the company a reprimand from the Swiss Society for Integrity. And the Swiss Equal Opportunities Commissioner deemed the slogan "Almost as beautiful as a woman. But ticks properly" sexist, despite its ironic intent. However, IWC could be sure of the approval of its core male clientele. IWC positioned itself for globalization early on. It was not without reason that the Swiss company of American origin positioned its flagship store in Hong Kong. And only there are special, exclusive accessory collections available in the smallest possible quantities. For a few – but only the best for them!
Other IWC model series
Pilot's Watches,ladies,Pilot's chronograph,Schaffhausen,The Little Prince,Portuguese Automatic,Portuguese Perpetual Calendar,Portuguese Chronograph,Portofino Automatic,diving watch,Moon phase,Aquatimer Automatic,Large Top Gun Pilot's Watch,Pilot's watch Spitfire Chronograph, Pilot's Watch Mark,Large pilot's watch,Yacht Club,Portuguese Yacht Club Chronograph,Portuguese Tourbillon,Portuguese Minute Repeater,Portuguese Grande Complication, Portuguese Annual Calendar, Portofino Chronograph,Pilot's Watch Chronograph Top Gun,Aquatimer Chronograph,Gold
