The Laings Journal
IWC are a well-known and revered brand in the world of luxury watches. Over the years they have become renowned for both the timeless aesthetic and the high-quality precision of their indulgent timepieces. Here we take a closer look at the watch brand that pairs Swiss tradition with an American pioneering spirit.
The International Watch Company, better known as IWC, holds a unique place in the watchmaking world. Each timepiece is crafted with meticulous attention to detail, combining precision engineering with timeless designs. Their creations bring the finest technology and unparalleled elegance to your wrists.
But how did their story start…
The Beginning of IWC
The IWC story began in 1868 when Florentine Ariosto Jones travelled to Switzerland from Boston to set up his own watch manufacturer. Schaffhausen was the ideal place for Jones. Here he followed the guidance of qualified Swiss watchmakers and centuries old horological traditions, combining this knowledge with new technology and hydropower sourced from the nearby River Rhine.
This unique blend allowed Jones to produce pocket watch movements of supreme quality, and his reputation for excellence was quickly established. His adventurous and entrepreneurial spirit meant he strove for engineering perfection and left a lasting impression on the luxury watch market.
The Manufacture
Found on the banks of the Rhine the IWC Manufacture is in a unique position. The vast majority of Switzerland’s watch manufacturers are based in the French-speaking part of the country. Set apart from them in the German-speaking Schaffhausen the IWC Manufacture is seen as an island in the watchmaking industry.
It is here that every watch is individually assembled by professional watchmakers who have mastered every step of the production process. The result is outstanding timepieces that have been created with meticulous workmanship, placing emphasis on functionality as well as design. IWC have a passion for innovative solutions and technical inventiveness. Within the walls of their manufacture, they focus on technology and development, allowing their wristwatches to continue to enchant the world of watch lovers.
IWC Style
As well as quality performance a watch also has to look good and be something that you’re proud to wear. At IWC design and function are closely related and come together most elegantly.
The luxury watch house has six different watch families that have been designed for different lifestyles - the Pilot’s Watches, Portugieser, Ingenieur, Aquatimer, Da Vinci and Portofino. They each have distinguishing features, but all embody the refined style and timeless appeal that IWC watches have become known for. There’s a certain finesse to IWC timepieces, they’re classically handsome, and all of the elements work harmoniously together. The purity of their designs mean that they are wristwatches that will be worn for generations.
Making a Sustainable Product
An IWC watch is inherently sustainable as it is built to last for generations. Economic growth, using renewable energy and maintaining a commitment to social responsibility has always been important to IWC, and they take great care to make their watches responsibly.
The company holds a number of sustainability initiatives, for example, IWC and all of their suppliers of gold, diamonds and platinum group metals hold Responsible Jewellery Council Code of Practices certification, and they work with them to implement best practices. They also support a healthy environment, and their Headquarters and new Manufacturing Centre are powered by renewable energy. IWC were also the first Swiss luxury watch brand to publish a sustainability report and are proud to be recognised by Positive Luxury as a ‘Luxury Brand to Trust’.
SHOP IWC
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