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IWC's story
IWC has been religiously practicing the fine art of watchmaking in Schaffhausen for 138 years. The fascination and challenge of manufacturing classical, timeless products while remaining at the forefront of the industry in design and technology have been the driving force behind numerous impressive achievements. Its motto, Probus Scafusia, expresses the good and solid craftsmanship of Schaffhausen and remains true to the IWC promise.
1868 An American engineer from Boston, Florentine Ariosto Jones, established the "International Watch Co." in Schaffhausen and started producing pocket watch movements.
1885 IWC produced its first digital display watches based on the patent owned by Mr. Pallweber.
1936 IWC made the "Spezialuhr für Flieger" also known as "Mark IX", its first watch especially made for pilots.
1938 Demand from the Portuguese market for a large, extremely accurate wristwatch results in the Portuguese with its original pocket watch movement.
1955 The Ingenieur, the first automatic wristwatch with a soft-iron inner case, went into production and was a huge success.
1978 The first compass watch marked the beginning of 20 years of cooperation between IWC & Designer F.A. Porsche.
1985 With the Da Vinci, IWC introduced the first perpetual calendar which has a four digit year display and can be adjusted exclusively via the crown.
1990 After seven years' development, IWC presents the first-ever-wristwatch-size Grande Complication with a perpetual calendar, chronograph and minute repeating mechanism.
1993 The masterpiece, Il Destriero, appeared on the occasion of IWC's 125th anniversary in an edition limited to 125 pieces, fitted with a flying-minute tourbillon and IWC's exclusive split-seconds mechanism.
2000 IWC introduces the 5000 calibre, a new automatic mechanical movement with a seven-day power reserve and the legendary winding mechanism of the patented Pellaton system. The Portuguese Automatic, produced in a limited edition, is fitted with this exclusive calibre.
2003 The Portuguese Perpetual Calendar, with its new design of perpetual calendar and the world exclusive two-hemisphere display of the moon phase, maintains the IWC tradition of innovation.
2004 IWC launches a whole new generation of diver's watches named Aquatimer.
2005 Relaunch of the Ingenieur collection supported by the partnership with Mercedes AMG.
2006 Relaunch of the Pilot's watch Classics and Spitfire collection.
Haute Horlogerie is combined in Schaffhausen with precision engineering and distinctive design. As an engineer among watchmakers, IWC also manufactures its own cases, and as a watchmaker it is keen to ensure that its craft traditions are handed down continuously. IWC has always trained apprentices, ever since the company was founded, and today 20 young talents are completing their four-year training as horloger complet (all-round watchmaker). This sense of continuity also distinguishes the factory from all others in the industry.
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