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Pictures of IWC Museum and some of the watches
(Click on any picture for a larger sized picture)
The spring cover of the exclusive Hunter pocket watch case from 1874 carries the relief embossing of a Mississippi steam boat. The founder of IWC gave the headquarters of the International Watch Company as New York, rather than Schaffhausen, in a series of watches.
On 17 June 1884, Johann Rauschenbach acquired the rights to the Pallweber system from the watchmaker Joseph Pallweber and assembled the first “digital watches” in the history of IWC: Open-face pocket watch with digital numerals and cyrillic inscription, 1886, Hunter pocket watch with windows for the digital display, 1887, Openface pocket watch with digital display, 1885.
One of the oldest men’s wristwatches from IWC dating from 1899 was fitted with a ladies’ pocket watch movement, because the movement diameter of 12_’’’ (28.2 mm) was the correct size for a men’s wristwatch.
At the end of the 1930s, IWC was requested by two Portuguese businessmen to build the first Portuguese wristwatch, a large wristwatch with the accuracy of a pocket watch: however, this was not compatible with the spirit of the age, which demanded small watches in the Art déco style.
The first IWC pilot’s watch was produced in the mid-1930s for the civil aviation sector. It was particularly hard-wearing, resistant to fluctuations in temperature and antimagnetic. The “Special Pilot’s Watch” made its appearance in 1939.
The Big Pilot's Watch was supplied to the German Luftwaffe in 1940 in an edition of 1,000 watches. With a case diameter of 55 mm, a height of 16.5 mm and a weight of 183 g, it was the most imposing IWC wristwatch ever built.
The history and the emotional worlds of the legendary IWC product families can be appreciated in the east wing. At the heart of the room is a mysteriously reflective monolith, which houses the horological highlights of IWC.
In the west wing, exhibits from the first 100 years of the IWC company history are displayed in an artfully lit interior. From the intricately decorated pocket watch to the breakthrough of the IWC wristwatch and the breathtaking technological developments of the mid-20th century.
In an area where cases and movement parts were once manufactured, light-infused rooms and display cabinets now make the fascinating exhibits sparkle and appear to float.
In combination with the exhibits on display, the museum setting is at one modern, luxurious and functional, offering every comfort for visitors. The retrospective exhibition is enhanced with original documents from the IWC archive.
Invitation to IWC’s new watch museum
