IWC Luxury Watches or An American in Switzerland
The story of the International Watch Company IWC cannot be told in a few sentences. There are many components that are unique about it and its watch models. Firstly, the geographical location far away from the Swiss watchmaking metropolises in a peripheral region near the Rhine; secondly, the curious reversal of the trend that prevailed 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. The engineer and watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones, with chutzpah and pioneering spirit, opted for a transcontinental cooperation: the watchmaking specialists of Switzerland, his state-of-the-art machine technology imported from the States and the American"anything goes" mottowere to build up a broad-based watch empire. The fact that he settled in Schaffhausen, the cradle of watchmaking, had a historical meaning alongside the practical consideration of using the energy from the Rhine power stations. As early as 1409, watches were being made in the nearby Rheinau monastery, and a "guild of fireworkers, gunsmiths, watchmakers and winch makers" was mentioned in documents 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 possible, but also for the genius loci. He failed - not least because of the high import duties in the USA - and returned to the States, and other owners and managing directors also struggled with the high waves of the Rhine. But with the takeover by the Schaffhausen industrialist Johannes Rauschenbach in 1879, the wind changed. Luck now seemed to be on IWC's side, and 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 in the 1970s and 1980s could only shake the IWC battleship slightly. With the company captain Günter Blümlein, who was considered a genius, the company remained steadily on the road to success.
The IWC Crown Jewels
Today, highly sought-after IWC rarities command high to extremely high collector prices. The company's history is full of milestones. Shortly after the company was founded, the Pallweber pocket watch amazed everyone with its digital display of hours and minutes, and Albert Pellaton developed the automatic winding mechanism. With its high level of innovation, the company recognized the future potential of wristwatches as early as the end of the 19th century and relied on its own movements. In the 1930s, the original IWC pocket watch movements were installed in high-precision wristwatches. Ahead of their time were the Pilot's Watch XI from 1948, which was protected against magnetic fields, and its no less spectacular successors, which the British Air Force used to measure time. They were followed by the Pilot's 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 comes onto the market in 1980. Not to forget the Da Vinci from 1985, a chronograph with many complications such as a perpetual calendar, tourbillon, moon phase display. With the introduction of an exclusive rarity – theSchaffhausen warhorseorDestriero Scafusia– IWC celebrated its company anniversary in 1993. All 125 pieces produced were snapped up within a very short time. Model names such as Spitfire Chronograph, Large Pilot's Watch, Portuguese Perpetual Calendar, Rattrapante Chrono, Portofino make collectors and watch lovers sit up and take notice.
IWC – Long-lasting watch families for the few
IWC collections – families – are fond of taking up cultural and historical aspects. Watch history was written by the very first wristwatch withGrande 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 through its unique understatement in form. With the strong emphasis on functionality, it is preferred by virile wearers who profess a noble restraint. TheIWC Portuguesefamily sees itself as a tribute to the great seafaring nation of Portugal. TheIWC-Da-Vinci-Family bows 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 were a strong commitment to understatement, as daring and sensational designer watches increasingly dominated the market from 1970 onwards. Clearly proportioned, but not without the decisive pinch of extravagance. In 1967, IWC responded to the increasing 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 machos only?
The International Watch Company makes no secret of the fact that it builds its watches for the masculine, daring, 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 opportunity commissioner judged the slogan "Almost as beautiful as a woman. But ticks properly" to be sexist, despite the ironic intention. But IWC could be sure of the acclamation of its male core clientele. IWC exposed itself to globality 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 extremely small quantities. For a few - but only the best for them!
Other IWC model series
Pilot's Watches,women,pilot's chronograph,Schaffhausen,Le Petit Prince,Portugieser Automatic,Portofino Automatic,diving watch,moon phase,Gold
