IWC Watch History

1868 - Schaffhausen in Switzerland is the setting for American Florentine Ariosto Jones to base a factory supplying the USA with movements.

1874 - Hunter pocket watch with the motif of a Mississippi steamboat is produced.

1880 - Johann Rauschenbach-Vogel takes over the factory which would mark the beginning of the International Watch Company. The company was handed to his son after his death one year after purchase.

1899 - Man's wristwatch, one of the oldest from IWC is produced

1942 - The Portuguese wristwatch is produced. This is the first IWC wristwatch that was produced with a man's pocket watch movement in a small edition of just 304 watches

1939 - IWC's first pilot watch "Special Pilot Watch" is made for civil aviation.

1940 - The 'Big Pilots Watch' is produced for the German Luftwaffe. This is the biggest watch made by IWC in an edition of 100 pieces.

1956 - IWC 'Ingenieur' watch is made which sets new standards in watch making.

1975 - The IWC Aquatimer, black dial, submersible to 200 meters is released due to the rising popularity in diving.

1980 - The German Navy's search for a professional divers watch for its services is found in IWC's Ocean 2000. This watch breaks the record by withstanding huge pressures upto 2000 meters.

1990 - IWC "Ingenieur 500,000 A/m" watch is produced. To date, it holds the world record for antimagnetic watches

1993 - Sees the release of the Portuguese anniversary watch in steel.

1994 - Pilot's chronograph with practically unbreakable ceramic case is made.