International Watch Co. Luxury Swiss Watches

IWC is one of the leading watch manufacturers in Switzerland for good reason, as the Schaffhausen-based company has always led the way with dashing and breathtaking chronometry. Famous models such as “Da Vinci”, “Grande Complication”, “Ingenieur” (and other diving watches that can descend safely to 2000 meters) are just a few examples of the outstanding quality provided by IWC. That’s not all, though- IWC is also known for pilots watches and wonderful pocket watches, which are a company tradition going back to IWC’s formation in 1868.

The company’s initials stand for International Watch Co., which was founded in Schaffhausen by an American engineer from Boston, of all people. Florentine Ariosto Jones established the company far from western Switzerland, where many of the top watchmaking companies have historically been located. The founder based some of his decision on the new hydroelectric power station that powered his machines, which he used to build mechanical movements that met perfection and found a captivated international market.

Florentine Ariosto Jones worked with watchmakers that had been in Schaffhausen for years, as archives from the area’s history date watchmaking back to the 16th century and possibly even earlier. This meant that Schaffhausen may not have been such an unlikely place to start IWC after all, and the company immediately took their creations in bold and daring directions. An example of this is the pocket watch the company made in 1885 (the Pallweber pocket watch), which had a digital display and is an extremely valuable collector’s item to this day.

While pocket watches are what IWC started with on its path to watchmaking greatness, the company was more than willing to branch out and accept new ways of doing things. At the turn of the century, IWC was among the very first to embrace the wristwatch, which was coming into style at the time. IWC had to develop completely original movements for the wristwatch, but it paid off, even as the company continued to incorporate pocket watch movements into them as larger-sized wristwatches became popular in the 1930’s. The Portuguese line of IWC watches is a great example of the oversized watch style that the company helped to pioneer.

Even now, IWC’s factory in Schaffhausen is the only watch factory that is found in eastern Switzerland. This only reignites the company’s passion for watchmaking and the desire to continue its own tradition in that area of the country. IWC has its own training center (established in 1968) which has helped to ensure that only the best watchmakers represent the company.

The company took a new approach during the turbulent period of the 1970’s when many Swiss watchmakers were having trouble, deciding to expand their focus to mechanical watches and innovative men’s designs. The following quote used in IWC’s advertising made their focus obvious: “Since 1868. And for as long as there are men.”

Today, the company’s employees, of which there are less than 400, continue to take IWC into the future with great pride. Anyone that owns a timepiece made by this prestigious manufacturer can attest to the tradition that this company has built.