IWC

IWC

It was no accident that an American engineer from Boston, Florentine Ariosto Jones, established the "International Watch Co." in Schaffhausen of all places in the year of 1868.  The factory on the Rhine-situated far from the watchmaking centers of West Switzerland-is indebted to this American for its name and its existence.  There he found a newly constructed hydroelectric power station for his machines.  Ideal conditions for his passion to build perfect mechanical movements for an international market.  He also found watchmakers whose profession already had a long tradition in Schaffhausen.

At the end of the 19th century, IWC was one of the first watch manufacturers to recognize the potential of the new and increasing fashionable wristwatch, for which it developed entirely new movements.  It also continued to build original pocket watch movements into wristwatches when the market in the thirties demanded large, extremely accurate wristwatches.  This is how the Portuguese line came into being- a trendsetting wristwatch in a "king-sized" format until today.  

The special position of IWC is rooted not only in history, but also in geography.   It remains the only watch factory in East Switzerland to this day.  It is precisely for this reason that the factory regards the need to ensure a qualified succession in the manufacture of mechanical watches as both a commitment and a passion. The craft perfection, the training of its specialists, the renunciation of mass-market products; all of these are in keeping with the old-established principle of IWC.  To make watches for small numbers of people, but watches of the highest quality. That is also the reason why if carefully maintained, IWC watches last for decades.

 

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