This is a special year for IWC. The Schaffhausen-based luxury watch manufacturer turns 150 years old, and they celebrated by releasing a limited edition jubilee collection at Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in Geneva this year
By: Niyoshi Shah
Posted on: May 30, 2018
From it’s base in the Rhine river town of Schaffhausen, the German-speaking part of Switzerland, IWC Schaffhausen has been crafting exceptional timepieces since 1868. Founded by a 27-year-old American engineer, Florentine Ariosto Jones, the company has produced some of the world’s most ground-breaking and iconic timepieces in the past 150 years, shattering the notion that a watch is just a watch.
Their creations are known as “machines” – a reflection of the scientific precision in which Mr Jones approached horology.
The brand, now owned by Compagnie Financière Richemont, is commemorating this milestone with a global series of events, including an exhibition of a limited-edition collection of contemporary and historic timepieces that will travel the world from May through November.
To mark the anniversary, IWC is breaking from its usual tradition of devoting the year’s new product output to one particular family, and instead releasing, what it calls, its Jubilee Collection — 27 limited-edition models across four families.
A wider selection of wristwear, such as the Da Vinci Tourbillon Mystère Rétrograde Chronograph, the Perpetual Calendar Chronograph, the Automatic 36 and Automatic Moon Phase 36, the Portugieser Perpetual Calendar and the Portofino Hand-Wound Tourbillon Rétrograde, will also be part of the exhibition. The case and moving lugs of these models are paved with 206 pure white diamonds amounting to 2.26 carats. They all follow a set of design codes that holds the otherwise extremely diverse collection together.
The collection revisits icons from IWC memoires, and all the models feature the same characteristic dial in white or blue, with printed markers on a gleaming surface reminiscent of the enamel dials of the original Pallweber models.
To finish off the case, each model is designed with the “150 Years” insignia. There are a few novelties that include totally new movements and complications, as well as new takes on favourite references as well.
An elegant black alligator leather strap by Italian footwear maestro Santoni, an IWC partner, completes each timepiece to provide a level of sophistication that is matched only by the watch’s technical fitness and ultimate performance, which, you can rest assured, has been proven.
The Jubilee Collection includes, among many others, The IWC Tribute to Pallweber Edition “150 Years”, Portugieser Constant-Force Tourbillon Edition “150 Years”, The Portugieser Hand-Wound Eight Days Edition “150 Years”, Portofino Hand-Wound Moon Phase Edition “150 Years”, Big Pilot’s Watch Annual Calendar Edition “150 Years”, the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “150 Years”, and Da Vinci Automatic Moon Phase 36 Edition “150 years”.
Available at: Art of Time, Sharyans Corner, Kanchwala Palace, Waterfield Road, Bandra, Mumbai, India
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