IWC
- Founded
- 1868
- Based in
- Schaffhausen, Switzerland
- In our catalog
- 11 watches from $4,950 to $43,000
IWC is a Swiss brand with an unusual accent. It was founded by an American, it sits in German-speaking Schaffhausen on the Rhine, and its style is sober and technical: pilot's watches, engineered movements and clean dials. It suits people who like function first.
History
Florentine Ariosto Jones, a watchmaker from Boston, founded the International Watch Company in Schaffhausen in 1868. He wanted to combine Swiss craftsmanship with American industrial methods, using the hydroelectric power the Rhine provided. Jones's business failed, but the company survived under the Rauschenbach family.
IWC made the Pallweber pocket watch with a digital display in 1884. In 1939 two Portuguese merchants asked for a wristwatch as accurate as a marine chronometer, which led to the Portugieser, using a pocket watch movement. IWC's pilot's watches date from 1936, and in 1948 it made the Mark 11 for the Royal Air Force. The Ingenieur of 1955 was built to resist magnetism. In the 1950s Albert Pellaton developed an efficient winding system still used today, and in 1985 Kurt Klaus designed a perpetual calendar that could be set entirely with the crown. IWC joined the Richemont group in 2000.
Signature models
- Pilot's Watch Mark XX: The latest in a long line of simple, readable pilot's watches.
- Big Pilot's Watch 43: The big-crown pilot's watch in a more wearable 43 mm.
- Big Pilot's Watch 46: The classic large version with a seven-day power reserve.
- Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41: An everyday pilot's chronograph.
- Pilot's Watch Chronograph Top Gun Ceramic: A pilot's chronograph in black ceramic, tied to the US Navy's fighter school.
- Portugieser Automatic 42: The modern Portugieser, with a seven-day power reserve and a clean, elegant dial.
- Portugieser Chronograph: One of the most recognizable chronographs in the industry.
- Portugieser Perpetual Calendar 44: Kurt Klaus's perpetual calendar in the Portugieser case.
- Ingenieur Automatic 40: The Gérald Genta-inspired 1970s design, relaunched in 2023.
- Portofino Automatic 40: A classic dress watch.
- Aquatimer Automatic: IWC's dive watch.
What it's known for
IWC's in-house movements often run for seven days. The brand is known for engineering, clean design and a slightly masculine, technical style.
Price and positioning
Most IWCs cost $5,000 to $14,000, with perpetual calendars and other complications much higher. Shoppers usually weigh it against Omega, Breitling and Jaeger-LeCoultre. IWC's pre-owned prices tend to sit well below retail, so a used Pilot's Watch or Portugieser is one of the better deals in Swiss luxury.
IWC watches in our library
- IWC Portofino Automatic 40 ($4,950 to $5,500)
- IWC Pilot's Watch Mark XX ($5,700 to $6,200)
- IWC Aquatimer Automatic ($6,900 to $7,700)
- IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41 ($6,950 to $7,650)
- IWC Portugieser Chronograph ($8,600 to $9,200)
- IWC Big Pilot's Watch 43 ($10,200 to $11,200)
- IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph Top Gun Ceramic ($10,500 to $11,100)
- IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40 ($11,700 to $12,100)
- IWC Big Pilot's Watch 46 ($13,600 to $14,300)
- IWC Portugieser Automatic 42 ($13,800 to $14,700)
- IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar 44 ($38,000 to $43,000)
Vintage IWC watches
- IWC Ingenieur SL 1832 (pre-owned, $15,000 to $30,000)