What image do you have of an IWC watch?

Simple and timeless design -Simple-

Abundant series - Series -

Luxury watch - High-class -

Legendary machine -Legend-

And so on, IWC has various charms.

On the one hand,

We welcome your feedback.

This time, we will introduce in detail the "unique charm" unique to IWC, which is headquartered in a German-speaking country, which is one of the few in Switzerland.

First, let's briefly touch on IWC.

Our head office is in this town

The company is headquartered in Schaffhausen, near the Swiss-German border. This town nestled on the Rhine River was once described by the novelist Takeo Arishima as a “quiet and elegant town,” and his pure love story remains as an anecdote in history. I have visited the IWC headquarters only once, and it was a very beautiful city surrounded by water and greenery. I think that IWC's wonderful watches are made precisely because watches are made in such a beautiful environment. Since Schaffhausen is close to the German border, the language spoken by the people of the city is German, and the temperament is similar to that of Germans. As is the case with cars, I think that German products have an image of being "sturdy" and "stately" compared to other European countries, and that they have relatively few breakdowns. I have the impression that IWC products produced in such an environment are naturally close to Japanese sensibilities and are easily accepted.

A watchmaker who runs a watch school

Originally, the company IWC was created by Americans to manufacture high-performance Swiss pocket watches and export them to their own country (the United States). Most of the watch production areas in Switzerland are in the western area (French-speaking), and Schaffhausen is a little further away. Since the factory was located in Schaffhausen, where the cottage industry was thriving, we have been training the people there in watch technology for a long time. That's why IWC runs one of the few watch schools among watch manufacturers. Most of the graduates continue their careers at IWC after graduation, but some graduates find careers at other prestigious Maisons. By the way, many of the graduates here are very excellent students in terms of academic background. The craftsmanship of these engineers adds depth to this wonderful IWC watch. I think IWC is unique in creating engineers and sending them to various manufacturers. As part of the watch school classes, we make parts such as movements made in the past, so one of the attractions is that even fairly old watches can be repaired. In the past, I have received about three requests to repair precious watches of my grandfather and the deceased with IWC watches. Since it cannot be repaired in Japan, it will be transported to Switzerland and repaired properly at the IWC factory. In that case, it will take a lot of time, and the repair cost will be more expensive than in Japan. However, the moment such a watch was properly repaired and started working again was the moment when the memories of the deceased began to move again. A mechanical watch is something that can be handed down over a long period of time while undergoing maintenance and adjustments. However, most of the parts stock will be gone in about 20 to 30 years. (It is said that even Rolex, which has a very excellent after-sales service department, can handle repairs for about 40 years.) There are 10 manufacturers that can handle repairs to a level that can be passed on to children and grandchildren. I don't think so. Meanwhile, IWC is able to repair all past products produced in-house. I don't think there is any other maison that can handle repairs for such a long time with a product that is actually under 1 million yen. The excellent service that comes from having a backbone that has been built up over the years is not something you can get anywhere.

It covers watches of any era manufactured since its inception in 1868. IWC also keeps detailed records of all products that have been on the market since 1885, so that even the most detailed information can be verified. At the heart of the repair department is a parts warehouse. Here, a huge amount of parts are meticulously organized and stored. Preserving original spare parts is very important given that IWC watches are enduring and loved by generations to come. Please note that the interval at which service is required varies greatly depending on how the watch is used and the environment in which it is used.

Source: From the manufacturer's official website

Now, let's take a look at the wonderful IWC line-up. The IWC collection can be roughly divided into six lineups. Among them, there are two lines, the elegant line and the sporty line. The elegant line is Portugieser, Portofino and Da Vinci. The sporty line consists of Pilot's Watch, Aquatimer, and Ingenieur. If you have already decided which collection you want to see, please see the collection introduction from each banner. And the great thing about IWC is that it has a history and stories that have been accumulated in all series, and among them, there is also a gem that is said to be a "legendary masterpiece". I think that there are many people who are worried about which one to choose because there is charm in everything. If that's the case, let's take a look at all of them together (laughs).

Series introduction

pilot watch

Pilot watches are one of IWC's signature collections. This series is based on the "Special Pilot's Watch" developed in 1936. As a representative of what is called a pilot watch,

breitling navitimer	Equipped with a rotary slide rule for aviation for the first time, it was adopted as an official watch certified by AOPA (World Association of Pilots).
Breguet Type XX (Twenty)	Delivered to French Naval Air Corps in 1960
Cartier Santos	Prototyped in 1904 at the request of Brazilian millionaire and aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont
IWC mark series	The world's first military pilot's watch developed in the 1930s and 1940s.

But isn't it famous? A point worth noting. Surprisingly, the origin of IWC's pilot watch is military! It is no exaggeration to say that IWC produced the first pilot's watches for military use. I think that the functions required for the Air Force in the 1930s and 40s, the genesis of the watch, were very difficult for the technology of the time. In pursuit of these "watches for professional use", yes! It's full of "rugged gears" that men love (laughs) But please rest assured! It's not just the "simplicity" and "ruggedness" that are common in military watches. Compared to a decade ago, there are more variations, more color variations, more playful options, and more sophisticated fashion items. Whether you use it for business or everyday use, it will look really stylish and cool! In addition, the movement has also changed to our own caliber, and the degree of perfection has been further improved, and I think it is one of the best buys right now. Because it's a popular series, it's normal for there to be a lot of variations, but it's certainly confusing when there are so many (laughs).

①Classic

This is the pioneer of military pilot watches. This collection inherits the design of military pilot watches developed in the 1930s and 1940s. It still retains the cockpit design that is characteristic of classic pilot's watches. What is the most important thing in a watch developed for professional use? It is the "functionality" that corresponds to the extreme environment. IWC technology is firmly inherited in the current model. The Mark 12, which began to be made in the 1990s, is characterized by its movement and other finishings based on luxury watches, while retaining the good points of pilot watches such as robustness, legibility, and accuracy. The design of IWC, which was born with function rather than design, is still a masterpiece and has an "unchanging beauty". Of course, its "beauty" is the exact opposite of the glittering designs of jewelry manufacturers. Men around the world fall in love with this rugged beauty. Check out our Classic line here.

② Top Gun

Speaking of "Top Gun", Yamamoto immediately thinks of the movie "Top Gun" (1986) of the same name starring Tom Cruise. Of course, watch fans who don't know about the movie, please take a look. It is a tribute model to NFWS (commonly known as TOP GUN), which is the name of the collection and the stage of the movie. The feature of this collection is the "ceramic case". In order to withstand the extreme loads (mainly gravity: G) used by elite pilots, the Top Gun model uses ceramic, which is a scratch-resistant, durable, and highly corrosive material. The black ceramic prevents the reflection of sunlight, and it is also possible to ensure the visibility of the pilot. It is an excellent piece that matches functionality and design well, and makes the viewer feel the unique luxury of the material. Check out the Top Gun product line here.

③Spitfire

A tribute model to the World War II fighter "Spitfire", which changed the history of England and is also said to be a "hero of salvation". The Spitfire is regarded as one of the most sophisticated fighter aircraft in the history of aircraft development. Developed in 1948 at the request of the Royal Air Force (RAF), the "Spitfire" is a design that strongly inherits the design of the "Mark 11", one of IWC's successive masterpieces. Especially recommended is the fabric strap model. The Spitfire product line can be found here.