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In 1868, an American engineer and watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones founded the International Watch Company with the intention of combining the craftsmanship of the Swiss with the modern engineering technology from the U.S. to manufacture movements and watch parts for the American market.
A watch factory was built in Schaffhausen to take advantage of the cheap hydro-power and production commenced in 1868. Despite the company's unique business plan, the enterprise was doomed from the start. After the company experiences several problems with not enough money to operate, the company filed for bankruptcy and Jones was forced to relinquish control of his company.
A Swiss consortium acquired IWC's shares and put another American, Frederick Seeland, at its helm. Although the company's fortunes improved somewhat, the improvement was not deemed sufficient enough. As a result, the company was put up for sale again. This time, one of IWC's stockholders, Johannes Raschenbach-Vogel, bought the company at auction for 280,000 francs.
Technical achievements and increased sales soon followed with the production of the first pocket watches with digital time indication, as well as development of the famous Calibre 52 movement, which at the time was quite revolutionary in its concept and construction.
Although the company experienced significant growth, following World War I, the company's fortunes again hit rock bottom under the proprietorship of Ernst Homberger-Rauschenbach. Fortunately, a major modernization effort paid off when the advent of World War II resulted in increased military demand.
It was thus during World War II that IWC created the first oversize anti-magnetic pilot's watch, followed by the famous Mark X, featuring its new in-house movement, Calibre 83. In 1944, IWC had a close call when the Allies mistakenly bombed Schaffhausen. As luck would have it, the factory narrowly escaped destruction.
In the aftermath of the war, International Watch Company lived up to its name and became a company of international scope. Exports to the United States increased and the brand became best known for its specialty watches, such as the Mark XI and Ingenieur - the first automatic IWC with a soft-iron inner case that protected the movement against magnetic fields as well as for its elegant dress watches.
Needless to say, vintage IWC's from the 1940's and 50's are highly collectible today and in great demand, as they are somewhat under-priced compared to other high-end watch brands of that era.
Although IWC entered the quartz era with its first quartz watch in 1969, using the Beta 21 movement, the company was ultimately unable to remain under family ownership. In 1978, a majority interest in the company was sold to VDO Adolf Schindling AG.
Subsequent developments include the debut of the Porsche series of sports watches, which remain in production to this day, as well as the creation of the "DaVinci" - a perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch that is mechanically programmed for the next 500 years.
This watch caused quite a stir when first introduced and set new standards with its "user friendly" perpetual calendar. In 1993, the company again stunned the watch world when it unveiled the remarkable Il Destriero, which at the time was the most complicated wristwatch in the world.
In the year 2000 IWC watches introduced a new advertising campaign, as well as the 5000 calibre, a new mechanical movement with a power reserve of seven days and an automatic movement. The automatic, an IWC exclusive, is a further development of the patented Pellaton system. The pocket watch-size movement is featured in the latest addition to the Portuguese line: an automatic with a power reserve display.
IWC watches philosophy is best summed up by IWC's current CEO, Michael Sarp, who recently stated, "We shall produce watches of the highest quality with unique technical and design characteristics and thus continue to experience the pleasures of innovation."
If you are looking for an exceptional watch that is high quality blended with uniques designs, IWC ladies watches and IWC mens watches make perfect choices for gifts or excellent additions to your watch collection.
Iwc Watches Latest News
Time and Gems Announces Valentine's Day Watch Sale; Over $1500 Off Popular ... - San Francisco Chronicle (press release)
Time and Gems Announces Valentine's Day Watch Sale; Over $1500 Off Popular ... San Francisco Chronicle (press release) Time and Gems is the largest online retail website for luxury watches, including Rolex, Panerai, Audemars Piguet, IWC, Cartier, Breitling, Patek Philippe, Omega and Ulysse Nardin. With a collection of over 800 unique luxury watches, the Time and Gems ... |
IWC Schaffhausen Tells The Story Of The Pilot's Watches - The Open Press (press release)
IWC Schaffhausen Tells The Story Of The Pilot's Watches The Open Press (press release) Geneva (OPENPRESS) January 19, 2012 -- As part of the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), IWC Schaffhausen invited around 1000 guests and journalists from all over the world to the launch of its new Pilot's Watch collection in Geneva. |
Time and Gems Announces Valentine's Day Watch Sale; Over $1500 Off Popular ... - DigitalJournal.com (press release)
Time and Gems Announces Valentine's Day Watch Sale; Over $1500 Off Popular ... DigitalJournal.com (press release) Time and Gems is the largest online retail website for luxury watches, including Rolex, Panerai, Audemars Piguet, IWC, Cartier, Breitling, Patek Philippe, Omega and Ulysse Nardin. With a collection of over 800 unique luxury watches, the Time and Gems ... |
IWC Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar “Top Gun” (Ref. 502902) - Perpetuelle.com (blog)
IWC Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar “Top Gun” (Ref. 502902) Perpetuelle.com (blog) by Kyle Stults on January 21, 2012 IWC has dubbed 2012 the “Year of the High Flyers. ” Accordingly, we have seen several changes and additions to their Pilot's collection, most prominently the the Miramar Top Gun watches (Big Pilot's watch TOP GUN ... |
The Fantastic New IWC Watch from SIHH 2012 - Esquire (blog)
 Esquire (blog) | The Fantastic New IWC Watch from SIHH 2012 Esquire (blog) Nope, it's a watch. Right now, it's SIHH 2012 (Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie), where all the new brands announce their new timepieces. While many make a big deal of their launches, few do it as big as IWC. How about a fighter jet? China the number one market for luxury watches says new report |
Celebs at launch of Pilot's Watch collection - Times of India
Celebs at launch of Pilot's Watch collection Times of India As part of the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), IWC Schaffhausen invited around 1000 guests from all over the world to the launch of its new Pilot's Watch collection in Geneva under the motto 'Top Gun'. Present at the launch were Cate ... |
Asian luxury demand underpins Richemont Q3 sales - Reuters
 CNBC.com | Asian luxury demand underpins Richemont Q3 sales Reuters The maker of Cartier jewelry and IWC watches said on Monday sales rose 24 percent at constant exchange rates between October and December against the year before, beating forecasts for a 20 percent rise in a Reuters poll. Buoyant Asian demand for ... Q4 watch and jewellery sales increase at Richemont Richemont Dec quarter sales up 24% |