IWC – WatchAdvisor – Your Time. Our Passion.

IWC in a Nutshell

Founded: 1868 – in Schaffhausen, by Florentine Ariosto Jones

Corporate: Member of Richemont Group

CEO: Christoph Grainger-Herr (Since 2017)

Revenue: CHF 800’000’000

Price Range: CHF 4’000 – 750’000

Units: 95’000 per year

Employees: + 1’000

Presence: Worldwide

Collection: Men’s & ladies’

What does the brand IWC stand for?

Living the American Dream in Switzerland. Founded by an American, Florentine Ariosto Jones, in Schaffhausen in 1868, IWC is the only major watch manufacturer of the eastern part of Switzerland.

The idea behind the brand’s foundation was to combine the power of the Rhine river, the cheap labor and craftsmanship of the Swiss workforce, and modern US engineering. The brand has had its ups and downs but today, it is certain that it lives according to its founder’s philosophy and proves to be a force to reckon with.

The manufacture had a long tradition of upgrading and modifying ETA movements. For instance, would you have believed that at the heart of the Grande Complication IWC79079 was a Valjoux chronograph movement? It is this peculiar heritage that makes IWC the real “engineering” brand of the watchmaking industry.

If you like engineering and to overcome the limits of mechanics, then choose IWC, you will not regret it!

About the Models

Da Vinci

Named after Leonardo Da Vinci, who mastered innovation and craftsmanship, the collection represents IWC’s philosophy at its best. The brand refreshed it in 2007 by introducing its new in-house chronograph movement and in 2009 with a perpetual calendar model.

Portofino

After having created such a unique model like the Da Vinci, IWC tried to reach new shores. The Portofino is an elegant, timeless and very sensual timepiece. It is a model that you will love to wear every day, at any events and under any circumstances.

Portugieser

Created originally for two Portuguese merchants looking for a large wristwatch with the precision of a pocket one, the Portugieser quickly became one of the most iconic collections of the brand. Today, its models still are some of the most popular of the whole watch industry.

Pilot’s Watches

This collection dates back from 1940 when IWC created a watch for the German air force. Over the years, almost no other pilot`s watch has gained such a great recognition factor. Today, the Pilot’s Watch collection is composed of manly and sporty models which will definitely never go out of style.

Ingenieur

The Ingenieur collection possesses a totally different style than the other IWC watches. As its name suggests, and due to its high antimagnetic resistance, it was originally designated to be a robust tool watch for scientists. Designed by Gerald Genta and James Pellaton, the Ingenieur is definitely another iconic model of IWC.

Aquatimer

IWC launched the Aquatimer in 1967, a period where diver watches were becoming more and more popular. The first model was back then already remarkably water resistant to a depth of 200m. In 2017, IWC celebrated the 50^th anniversary of the collection by adding a perpetual calendar variation to its emblematic diver watch.

Jubilee

After having created analog watches for decades, IWC decided to present its first watch with a digital display, inspired by the historical Pallweber pocket watches. The Jubilee collection shows you that even 150 years after IWC’s creation, there is still something new to discover about the brand.