The International Watch Company holds a longstanding horological legacy as the magnum opus of its industry. With higher standards connoted in its own name, IWC sits at the pinnacle of luxury. IWC timepieces tell us more than time by bridging the gap between humanity and invention. Engineered to evolve, IWC keeps its heritage at the forefront of design. Made for those who live robustly, each watch embraces a lifestyle that appreciates both tradition and modernity. Notably known for producing high-quality aviation watches and crafting with titanium, IWC is also the only major Swiss watch manufacturer located in eastern Switzerland. Since the early aughts, IWC has spearheaded the watch industry towards sustainability by committing to environmental protection and developmental protocols.
Swiss craftsmanship combined with American production quality resulted in Florentine Ariosto Jones’ International Watch Co. In 1868, Jones opened his factory in Schaffhausen built by Heinrich Moser to promote industrialization, where machines operated on hydro-power supplied by the Rhine. As a Bostonian, Jones introduced a premier hub of engineering to the Swiss-German borders of Europe with his American touch. He intended to marry Swiss craftsmanship and modern American technology to manufacture specific movements with the existing skilled labour of Switzerland. The first watch movement was called the Jones calibre after his namesake which started a revolutionary horologic tradition. The company is founded on innovation and continues to operate with the same progressive philosophies by implementing current environmental and sustainable practices. The company’s commitment to quality and a clear focus on its DNA can be found on their movements, where their motto “ProbusScafusia” is engraved. The Latin phrase translates to “Good, Solid Craftsmanship, from Schaffhausen”.
Swiss craftsmanship combined with American production quality resulted in Florentine Ariosto Jones’ International Watch Co. In 1868, Jones opened his factory in Schaffhausen built by Heinrich Moser to promote industrialization, where machines operated on hydro-power supplied by the Rhine. As a Bostonian, Jones introduced a premier hub of engineering to the Swiss-German borders of Europe with his American touch. He intended to marry Swiss craftsmanship and modern American technology to manufacture specific movements with the existing skilled labour of Switzerland. The first watch movement was called the Jones calibre after his namesake which started a revolutionary horologic tradition. The company is founded on innovation and continues to operate with the same progressive philosophies by implementing current environmental and sustainable practices. The company’s commitment to quality and a clear focus on its DNA can be found on their movements, where their motto “ProbusScafusia” is engraved. The Latin phrase translates to “Good, Solid Craftsmanship, from Schaffhausen”
IWC has a large family of collections including their Portugieser, Pilot, Portofino, DaVinci, Aquatimer, and Ingenieur; each of which individually appreciates the wisdom rooted in tradition. Every collection, and every piece within it, is a testament to the four generations of Schaffhausen innovation and remark on the company’s scope of expertise. The brand is touted on its robust range of watches for the every-man and woman, to professional athletes, to industry disruptors. Alongside these are their specialty watches like the IWC Vintage Collection and the Grande Complication.
Their most notable Collection, the Portugieser, has a prolific history that perfectly encompasses IWC’s ingenuity. Named after the two Portuguese businessmen the watch was originally made for, the iconic Portugeiser was made-to-order. Rodrigues and Antonia Teixera requested a timepiece with the same precise accuracy of marine chronometers. Made without a name or reference number, the first models shared the same case model, “Mod. 228,” with other early wristwatches. It soon would become recognized as Reference 325 to distinguish this make amongst others. To add to the confusion, IWC’s first Portuguese watch was delivered to a wholesaler in Ukraine in 1939.
For IWC, accuracy is what elevates greatness apart from the rest. The advent of IWC’s perpetual calendar allows the date, day of the week, month, moon phase, and year to run perfectly without essentially any err until 2499. Developed by Kurt Klaus during the early 1980s, it made its debut in the iconic Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar in 1985. This clever mechanism developed under the code name “Operation Eternity” took IWC to the peak of haute horology and is regarded as a milestone in the art of watchmaking even today. IWC’s engineers continue to evolve its original design to suit current demands, for example, with a digital display for the month and day, for a contemporary option.
IWC’s Ceratanium continues to break boundaries by combining the resiliency of ceramic with the agility of titanium to be weightlessly tough and scratch-resistant. It also introduces a way to produce an all-black watch without any coating, as seen in the Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph Top Gun Certanium.
IWC’s 18 CT Armor Gold is made to be stronger and 5 to 10 times as wear-resistant as conventional 5N gold. As gold is the most valued precious metal, this material embodies the elegance of gold. The watch case of an IWC is 75% pure gold, equivalent to 18 carats. 18 ct Armor Gold is produced by transforming the microstructure of their alloyed gold to create a new material that’s suitable for the heavy case and substantial diamond crown on their Big Pilot’s Watch (Le Petit Prince). As a company that rode the fluctuations of the international watch market of the 1930’s, IWC navigated the economic and political turbulence of Europe by finding new, different, and in-demand markets and sales opportunities. Their solution came in the shape of the elegant pocket and wristwatches for men and women with an Art Deco flair. Designers at this time were using a simplistic approach to shapes and details inspired by New York’s Chrysler Building.
When we look at an IWC, we’re reminded that it’s always the right time to cross borders. From the very beginning, IWC horologists looked for ways to harmonize, break, or cross limits that lead to cutting-edge breakthroughs. Engineered to be reliable, refined, and respected, we know every collection deserves a double-take without having to think twice. Made for the gentleman or woman who isn’t afraid of crossing lines, every IWC collection is made with intent. IWC understands the syndicated nuances that make our hearts tick. Every timepiece should be an extension of who you are, what you do, and the story you tell. The art of telling time is multi-faceted and requires human interaction and IWC makes every watch an answer to a human problem. IWC believes every minute recorded should initiate exploration, creativity, and critical thinking.
IWC combines detail-oriented engineering with elegant design to guarantee each piece as a luxurious experience meant to last generations. This luxury philosophy influences their responsible and sustainable approach to fine craftsmanship. As a result, the brand works toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, in particular, “Responsible Consumption and Production’ and ‘Decent Work and Economic Growth”. The company commits to transparency as part of their inherent culture, and they are the first Swiss luxury watchmaker to produce a sustainability report to Global Reporting Initiative Standards. This report accounts for their eight sustainability targets, including their commitment to biennial reporting.
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