La International Watch Company, o IWC, fue fundada en Suiza en 1868 por el ingeniero estadounidense Florentine Ariosto Jones. Su objetivo era fabricar relojes de bolsillo de alta calidad para el mercado estadounidense. La empresa pasó a manos de la familia Rauschenbach en 1880, tras el regreso de Jones a Estados Unidos. IWC es filial de Richemont desde el año 2000.
La marca es especialmente conocida por sus relojes de piloto, que siguen siendo fundamentales para IWC en la actualidad. IWC también fabrica relojes de vestir, relojes de buceo y modelos de colección con sofisticadas complicaciones, como el IWC Schaffhausen Warhorse. Este reloj se desarrolló con motivo del 125.º aniversario de la empresa en 1993. En 2021, Christie’s subastó un ejemplar extremadamente raro con engaste completo de diamantes por 3 250 000 HK$.
Durante sus primeros años, IWC fabricaba relojes de bolsillo y de pulsera para hombres y mujeres. A lo largo de la Primera y la Segunda Guerra Mundial, IWC asumió contratos militares muy rentables y comerciales, produciendo más relojes de piloto que cualquier otra empresa. La primera edición especial del reloj de piloto de IWC se lanzó en 1936, seguida en 1939 por el IWC Portugieser. En respuesta al aumento de la demanda, la empresa lanzó el reloj IWC Big Pilot’s en 1940.
Entre las ediciones especiales de relojes de piloto se incluyen el IWC Spitfire, el IWC Top Gun, el IWC Le Petit Prince y el IWC Antoine De Saint-Exupéry. El primer reloj de piloto de IWC, el Mark 11, apareció en 1948. Entre sus sucesores más populares se encuentran el IWC Mark XX y el IWC Mark XVIII.
En 1955, la marca lanzó el IWC Ingenieur con cuerda automática. A este le siguió en 1967 el IWC Aquatimer. Resistente al agua hasta 20 bar, este reloj de buceo se convertiría en el reloj preferido para el uso profesional bajo el agua.
IWC hizo historia en 1980 al fabricar el primer cronógrafo del mundo con caja de titanio. Una década más tarde presentó la «Grande Complication» en formato de reloj de pulsera.
La era Richemont sigue siendo testigo de nuevas innovaciones y de la expansión de IWC. Se añadió una indicación de doble fase lunar al calendario perpetuo de la línea Portugieser, mientras que se introdujo un bisel giratorio externo/interno en el Aquatimer. En 2011, la firma lanzó el elegante IWC Portofino de cuerda manual de ocho días. El IWC Big Pilot 43, con el calibre 82 y fondo de caja transparente, apareció en 2021.
Los relojes IWC se venden habitualmente en subastas. Entre los modelos más codiciados por los coleccionistas se encuentran el IWC Schaffhausen y los relojes de la línea IWC Grande Complication.
IWC. AN EXTRAORDINARY CERAMIC AND TITANIUM AUTOMATIC CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WORN BY ASTRONAUT JARED 'ROOK' ISAACMAN DURING THE POLARIS DAWN MISSION TO SPACE
SIGNED IWC, PILOT'S WATCH CHRONOGRAPH EDITION 'POLARIS DAWN', CASE NO. 6'403'907, NO. 1⁄4, CIRCA 2024
IWC. A VERY RARE, IMPRESSIVE AND LARGE PLATINUM LIMITED EDITION AUTOMATIC PERPETUAL CALENDAR MINUTE REPEATING CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH MOON PHASES, YEAR INDICATION AND BOX
SIGNED IWC, GRANDE COMPLICATION MODEL, REF. 3770, NO. 2/50, CIRCA 2003
IWC. A VERY RARE AND HIGHLY ATTRACTIVE PLATINUM LIMITED EDITION MINUTE REPEATING PERPETUAL CALENDAR CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH MOON-PHASES
SIGNED IWC, GRANDE COMPLICATION MODEL, REF. 3770, NO. 04/50, CIRCA 2006
IWC. AN IMPORTANT, VERY RARE AND FINE PLATINUM LIMITED EDITION MINUTE REPEATING PERPETUAL CALENDAR SPLIT SECONDS CHRONOGRAPH TOURBILLON WRISTWATCH WITH MOON PHASES AND DIGIT YEAR DISPLAY, MADE TO COMMEMORATE THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN
SIGNED IWC, SCHAFFHAUSEN, IL DESTRIERO SCAFUSIA MODEL, NO. 18/125, CASE NO. 2'537'047, CIRCA 1993
IWC. A Very Rare, Fine and Large 18k Gold Limited Edition Perpetual Calendar Minute Repeating Split Second Chronograph Tourbillon Wristwatch with Digital Year Display and Moon Phases
Signed International Watch Co., Schaffhausen, Il Destriero Scafusia Model, No. 112/125, Ref. 1868, Movement No. 2500118, Case No. 2537002, Circa 1993
IWC. A FINE, LARGE, HEAVY AND VERY RARE PLATINUM LIMITED EDITION AUTOMATIC PERPETUAL CALENDAR MINUTE REPEATING CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH MOON PHASES AND YEAR DISPLAY
SIGNED IWC, SCHAFFHAUSEN, GRANDE COMPLICATION, NO. 12/50, REF. NO. IW9270-16, CASE NO. 3'146'971, MANUFACTURED IN 2005
IWC. A FINE, LARGE, HEAVY AND VERY RARE PLATINUM LIMITED EDITION AUTOMATIC PERPETUAL CALENDAR MINUTE REPEATING CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH MOON PHASES, YEAR DISPLAY AND HEAVY PLATINUM BRACELET
SIGNED IWC, SCHAFFHAUSEN, GRANDE COMPLICATION, NO. 38/50, REF. NO. IW9270-16, CASE NO. 2'554'038, CIRCA 1993
IWC. A very fine and rare stainless steel oversized wristwatch with black dial and Gay Freres bracelet
SIGNED INTERNATIONAL WATCH CO., SCHAFFHAUSEN, PORTUGIESER MODEL, REF. 325, CASE NO. 1'072'487, MOVEMENT NO. 932'033, MANUFACTURED IN 1942
IWC. An extremely fine and rare 18K gold limited edition minute repeating perpetual calendar split seconds chronograph tourbillon wristwatch with moon phases
Signed IWC, International Watch Company, Schaffhausen, 1868-1993, Il Destriero Scafusia, No. 124/125, Ref. 1868, movement no. 2’500’056, case no. 2’537’066, circa 1995
IWC. A FINE AND RARE LIMITED EDITION 18K WHITE GOLD SKELETONIZED MINUTE REPEATING WRISTWATCH
SIGNED IWC, PROBUS SCAFUSIA, REF. 5241, PORTUGUESE SQUELETTE MODEL, NO. 26/50, CASE NO. 3080904, CIRCA 2006
IWC. A very fine and large platinum limited edition automatic minute repeating perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases, original certificate and box
Signed IWC Portugieser Grande Complication, 2014, No. 05/100, Ref. IW377401, case no. 3’924’200, manufactured in 2017
IWC. A VERY RARE AND IMPRESSIVE PLATINUM LIMITED EDITION AUTOMATIC PERPETUAL CALENDAR MINUTE REPEATING CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH MOON PHASES AND YEAR INDICATION
SIGNED IWC, GRANDE COMPLICATION MODEL, REF. 3770, NO. 2/50, CIRCA 2003
IWC. A fine and rare oversized platinum limited edition automatic perpetual calendar minute repeating chronograph wristwatch with moon phases
SIGNED IWC, SCHAFFHAUSEN, GRANDE COMPLICATION, NO. 43/50, REF. 3770, CASE NO. 2'554'043, MANUFACTURED IN 1993
IWC. A fine and rare oversized platinum limited edition automatic perpetual calendar minute repeating chronograph wristwatch with moon phases
SIGNED IWC, SCHAFFHAUSEN, GRANDE COMPLICATION, NO. 18/50, REF. 3770, MOVEMENT NO. 2'435'124, CASE NO. 2'554'018, MANUFACTURED IN 1993
IWC. A RARE AND ATTRACTIVE PLATINUM LIMITED EDITION MINUTE REPEATING PERPETUAL CALENDAR CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH MOON-PHASES
SIGNED IWC, GRANDE COMPLICATION MODEL, REF. 3770, NO. 14/50, CIRCA 2001
IWC. A VERY FINE AND RARE PLATINUM LIMITED EDITION AUTOMATIC MINUTE REPEATING PERPETUAL CALENDAR CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH MOON PHASES AND DIGITAL YEAR DISPLAY
SIGNED IWC, SCHAFFHAUSEN, GRANDE COMPLICATION MODEL, NO. 03/50, REF. 3770, CIRCA 2003
IWC. A FINE AND RARE LIMITED EDITION OVERSIZED PLATINUM AUTOMATIC PERPETUAL CALENDAR MINUTE REPEATING CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH MOON PHASES
SIGNED IWC, GRANDE COMPLICATION, NO. 49/50, MOVEMENT NO. 2435039, CASE NO. 2451049, REF. 3770, CIRCA 1990
IWC. A VERY RARE AND ATTRACTIVE PLATINUM LIMITED EDITION MINUTE REPEATING PERPETUAL CALENDAR CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH MOON-PHASES
GRANDE COMPLICATION MODEL, NO. 4⁄50, REF. 3770, CASE NO. 3’152’311, CIRCA 2006
IWC. A very fine and rare stainless steel oversized wristwatch with black dial and Gay Freres bracelet
SIGNED INTERNATIONAL WATCH CO., SCHAFFHAUSEN, PORTUGIESER MODEL, REF. 325, CASE NO. 1'072'487, MOVEMENT NO. 932'033, MANUFACTURED IN 1942
IWC, PLATINUM 'GRANDE COMPLICATION', REF. 3770
NO. 20⁄50, CASE NO: 2'840'108
IWC. A very fine and rare stainless steel oversized wristwatch
SIGNED INTERNATIONAL WATCH CO., SCHAFFHAUSEN, PORTUGIESER MODEL, REF. 325, CASE NO. 1'072'514, MOVEMENT NO. 932'006, MANUFACTURED IN 1942
IWC. A very fine, rare and large 18K gold limited edition automatic perpetual calendar minute repeating chronograph wristwatch with moon phases, digital year display, two-tone dial, certificate, box and “Grande Complication” book
Signed IWC, Schaffhausen, Grande Complication, No. 09/50, ref. 3770, case no. 3’198’602, manufactured in 2006
IWC. A Fine Oversized Limited Edition Platinum Skeletonized Wristwatch
SIGNED IWC, SCHAFFHAUSEN, PORTUGUESE, F.A. JONES MODEL, REF. 5442, NO. 42/50, MOVEMENT NO. 25'077, CASE NO. 3'243'526, CIRCA 2006
IWC, BIG PILOT PERPETUAL, SINCERE WORLD EXCLUSIVES PLATINUM AUTOMATIC PERPETUAL CALENDAR 7-DAY-GOING WRISTWATCH WITH MOON PHASE DISPLAY AND POWER RESERVE INDICATION, LIMITED EDITION OF 25 MADE EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE OPENING OF SINCERE HAUTE HORLOGERIE BOUTIQUE, SINGAPORE
NO. 3234048, MANUFACTURED IN 2006
IWC. AN EXTRAORDINARY CERAMIC AND TITANIUM AUTOMATIC CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WORN BY ASTRONAUT ANNA MENON DURING THE POLARIS DAWN MISSION TO SPACE
SIGNED IWC, PILOT'S WATCH CHRONOGRAPH EDITION 'POLARIS DAWN', CASE NO. 6'403'910, 4⁄4, CIRCA 2024
IWC. A Very Rare, Fine and Large 18k Gold Limited Edition Automatic Perpetual Calendar Minute Repeating Chronograph Wristwatch with Moon Phases
Signed IWC, Schaffhausen, Grande Complication, Ref. 3770, No. 15/50, Case No. 2'832'159, Circa 2001
IWC, MINUTE REPEATER PORTUGUESE PLATINUM MANUALLY-WOUND MINUTE REPEATING WRISTWATCH
CASE 2917573, CIRCA 2000
IWC. AN EXTRAORDINARY CERAMIC AND TITANIUM AUTOMATIC CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WORN BY ASTRONAUT SARAH GILLIS DURING THE POLARIS DAWN MISSION TO SPACE
SIGNED IWC, PILOT'S WATCH CHRONOGRAPH EDITION 'POLARIS DAWN', CASE NO. 6'403'909, NO. 3⁄4, CIRCA 2024
IWC. A RARE SET OF 6 PLATINUM LIMITED EDITION WRISTWATCHES, WITH ORIGINAL WOOD AND LEATHER SUITCASE PRESENTATION BOX, MADE TO CELEBRATE THE 140 TH ANNIVERSARY OF IWC
IWC VINTAGE COLLECTION - JUBILEE EDITION 1868-2008, SET NO. 67⁄140, CIRCA 2008 A PLATINUM WRISTWATCH, FLIEGERUHR HANDAUFZUG MODEL, REF. 3254, CASE NO. 3’361’621 AND 67⁄500 A PLATINUM WRISTWATCH, PORTUGIESER HANDAUZUG MODEL, REF. 5445, CASE NO. 3’313’597 AND 67⁄500 A PLATINUM AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS AND DATE, INGENIEUR AUTOMATIC MODEL, REF. 3233, CASE NO. 3’309’024 AND 67⁄500 A PLATINUM AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS AND DATE, AQUATIMER AUTOMATIC MODEL, REF. 3231, CASE NO. 3’393’539 AND 67⁄500 A PLATINUM HEXAGONAL-SHAPED AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH DATE, DA VINCI AUTOMATIC MODEL, REF. 5461, CASE NO. 3’305’698 AND 67⁄500 A PLATINUM WRISTWATCH WITH MOONPHASE, PORTOFINO MODEL, REF. 5448, CASE NO. 3’321’755 AND 67⁄500
IWC, LIMITED EDITION OF 100 PIECES, PORTUGIESER MINUTE REPEATER, REF. IW524204
Certificate and box
IWC. AN EXTRAORDINARY CERAMIC AND TITANIUM AUTOMATIC CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WORN BY ASTRONAUT SCOTT 'KIDD' POTEET DURING THE POLARIS DAWN MISSION TO SPACE
SIGNED IWC, PILOT'S WATCH CHRONOGRAPH EDITION 'POLARIS DAWN', CASE NO. 6'403'908, NO. 2⁄4, CIRCA 2024
IWC. A RARE, LARGE AND ELEGANT PLATINUM LIMITED EDITION MINUTE REPEATING WRISTWATCH WITH GUARANTEE AND BOX
SIGNED INTERNATIONAL WATCH CO., PORTUGUESE REPETITION MODEL, REF. 5240, NO. 1, CIRCA 2000