IWC Tribute to Pallweber Edition 150 Years

IWC Schaffhausen is celebrating its 150th anniversary with this interesting watch, IWC Tribute to Pallweber, based on pieces in their historic collection. In addition to three wristwatch variants, it is also available as a pocket watch. They are all limited editions. Both the new Tribute to Pallweber and the original pocket watches that were made…

IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Heritage reference IW501005

IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Heritage IW501004 and IW501005

With their large conical crown, classic dial design and riveted leather strap, these two new Big Pilot’s watches by IWC have an authentic look, close to the original 1940s IWC pilot’s watch, reference 431 (scroll down for photo). The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Heritage is in two versions, IW501004 with a titanium case, and IW501005…

IWC Da Vinci Tourbillon Rétrograde Chronograph

The Tourbillon Rétrograde Chronograph is the highest-priced watch in the new Da Vinci collection by IWC, and it includes three complications: tourbillon, chronograph and retrograde date. It is powered by the new in-house 89900 calibre, self-winding, running at 28,800 vibrations per hour, 4 Hertz. It has some significant technical features. Advanced materials in the 89900…

IWC Da Vinci Automatic Moon Phase 36

IWC extends its collection of watches for women with three Da Vinci Automatic Moon Phase 36 models, all of which share the fundamental characteristics of the new Da Vinci range – mobile lugs for easy wearability whatever the wrist size, domed crown, recessed circle on the dial, Santoni strap – along with the moon phase…

IWC Da Vinci Automatic 36

It was no easy task for the designers at IWC. After the Portofino Midsize 37mm collection in 2015, the first time for about 20 years that IWC had directly approached women’s watches, and a few 36mm pilot’s watches last year, Da Vinci includes two series of 36mm watches designed specifically for women, the Da Vinci…

Two new pilot’s watches by IWC Schaffhausen

Four years after the last pilot’s watch collection by IWC Schaffhausen presented at SIHH in 2012, this year the brand is once again renewing its range of watches inspired by historic aviation patterns. IWC’s production in this area is significant because amongst the brands making versions of the classic Second World War B-Uhr watches (Beobachtungs-uhren,…

The rising trend of watches for him and her

Watches for him and her – his and hers watches, couples watches or pairing watches – have been an important trend in Asia – above all China, Korea and Japan – for many years, and there are signs that it is gradually moving westwards. As purchases by tourists visiting Europe are increasingly important in boutiques’…

Are Swiss watches getting smarter?

Apple’s ambitions to enter the luxury sector with its Apple watch, one of the versions of which has a gold case like a traditional high-end watch, seems to have got the classic watch brands thinking. The quartz crisis is still a painful memory, and its destruction of about two-thirds of Switzerland’s watchmaking companies was due…

The Battle of Switzerland

IWC‘s history includes a less familiar episode of the Second World War. In the 1930s IWC had a close link to aviation because both sons, Hans and Rudolf, of the Manufacture’s owner at the time, Ernst Jakob Homberger, were pilots. Rudolf was an officer in the Swiss Air Force, and saw action on many occasions…

Two new pilot’s watches by IWC

Lots of people like pilot’s watches, and luckily, IWC like them too. While awaiting SIHH 2016 which (I think) will see IWC renewing its pilot’s watches collection, they are offering new versions of existing watches. Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph Edition “Le Petit Prince” The Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph Edition “Le Petit Prince” is dedicated to…

Top 20 pilot’s watches

This selection presents twenty pilot’s watches, still in production, with the classic black dial, white Arabic numerals, and triangle marker at 12 o’clock, recalling the watches supplied to the Luftwaffe in the years before, during and after the Second Worlld War by A. Lange & Sohne, IWC, Wempe, Laco, and Stowa. Three of those historic…

IWC Portugieser Chronograph IW3714

This was introduced in 1998 and soon became the most popular Portuguese (now Portugieser) model, with its functional chronograph function, reliable movement, and moderate case size at 40.9 mm diameter and 12.3 mm thickness making it accessible to most men and many women. Movement The calibre 79350 automatic movement runs at 28,800 vph (4 Hertz)…

IWC Portugieser Yacht Club Chronograph IW3905

The IWC Yacht Club was a three-hander watch until 2010, when the Portugieser Yacht Club Chronograph was presented. The 2015 version has been modified to a degree, above all in some design touches. Most importantly, the case diameter has been reduced from 45.4 to 43.5 millimetres. It is intended as a watch for yachtsmen and…

IWC Portugieser Automatic IW5007

Like the original 1930s Portugieser, the Automatic IW5007 is large, simple and reliable. The design of the Portugieser Automatic was presented in 2000, and in comparison with the previous version, the IW5007 remains unchanged in terms of dial design. What changes is the movement, now the 52010 calibre, part of the 52000 family of movements…