L’International Watch Company, ou IWC, a été fondée en Suisse en 1868 par l’ingénieur américain Florentine Ariosto Jones. Son objectif était de produire des montres de poche de haute qualité pour le marché américain. La société a été cédée à la famille Rauschenbach en 1880 après le retour de Jones aux États-Unis. IWC est une filiale de Richemont depuis 2000.
La marque est surtout connue pour ses montres de pilote, qui occupent encore aujourd’hui une place centrale chez IWC. IWC produit également des montres habillées, des montres de plongée et des modèles de collection dotés de complications sophistiquées, comme l’IWC Schaffhausen Warhorse. Cette montre a été développée à l’occasion du 125e anniversaire de la société en 1993. En 2021, Christie’s a vendu un exemplaire extrêmement rare entièrement serti de diamants pour 3 250 000 HK$.
Au cours de ses premières années, IWC produisait des montres de poche et des montres-bracelets pour hommes et femmes. Tout au long de la Première Guerre mondiale et de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, IWC a décroché des contrats militaires très lucratifs et commerciaux, produisant plus de montres de pilote que n’importe quelle autre entreprise. La première édition spéciale de la montre de pilote IWC a été lancée en 1936, suivie en 1939 par l’IWC Portugieser. En réponse à une forte augmentation de la demande, la marque a lancé la montre IWC Big Pilot’s en 1940.
Parmi les montres de pilote en édition spéciale, on trouve l’IWC Spitfire, l’IWC Top Gun, l’IWC Le Petit Prince et l’IWC Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. La première montre de pilote IWC Mark 11 est apparue en 1948. Parmi ses successeurs les plus populaires, on trouve l’IWC Mark XX et l’IWC Mark XVIII.
En 1955, la marque a lancé l’IWC Ingenieur à remontage automatique. Elle a été suivie en 1967 par l’IWC Aquatimer. Étanche jusqu’à 20 bars, cette montre de plongée allait devenir la montre de prédilection pour un usage professionnel sous l’eau.
IWC est entrée dans l’histoire en 1980 en produisant le premier chronographe au monde doté d’un boîtier en titane. Une décennie plus tard, elle a lancé la Grande Complication au format montre-bracelet.
L'ère Richemont continue d'être marquée par de nouvelles innovations et une expansion chez IWC. Un double affichage de la lune a été ajouté au calendrier perpétuel de la ligne Portugieser, tandis qu'une lunette tournante externe/interne a été introduite sur l'Aquatimer. En 2011, la marque a lancé l'élégante IWC Portofino à remontage manuel huit jours. L'IWC Big Pilot 43, dotée du calibre 82 et d'un fond ouvert, a fait son apparition en 2021.
Les montres IWC sont régulièrement vendues aux enchères. Parmi les modèles très recherchés par les collectionneurs figurent l'IWC Schaffhausen et les montres de la collection 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