When talking about high-end watches, there are many well-respected brands out there that come with illustrious histories. One such brand is IWC – or the International Watch Company – a renowned watchmaker which history is worth looking into. This brand was founded by Florentine Ariosto Jones (a watchmaker who previously worked in Boston, USA) way back in 1868 in the Swiss town of Schaffhausen.
Nowadays, the brand is continuously making a great effort to keep sustainable and environmentally friendly, making it placed on the top of 15 Swiss-brand watch manufacturers for its environmental rating. The brand has more than to offer in the market today, with its high-caliber quality materials used and unique design and features. In this article, we have listed the best five watches from IWC that are all worth your money investing in.
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Portofino Chronograph
A timepiece launched by IWC in 1984 and was named after the small Italian fishing village, IWC Portofino watches or best known as “pocket-watch-style wristwatch.” Unlike the typical Arabic numbers used by the brand for its timepieces, this classic dress watch features Roman numerals like the Pilot collection. Its chronograph was made out of a self-winding 75320 caliber that comes with a 44-hour power reserve. The timepiece’s steel Milanaise bracelet makes it look more luxurious and elegant time-telling tool.
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Pilot’s Watch Automatic Spitfire
Despite the fact that the IWC brand does produce dive watches, it is best known for its connection with aviation, knowing how great its first-ever Pilot watch was launched in the mid-1930s. This Pilot’s Watch Automatic Spitfire was designed to pay homage to the PIlot’s Watch Mark 11 released way back in 1948. This timepiece has paved the way for Pilot’s identity and how this collection should look like. Yes, it is a modern-day watch, but still, it remains true to the design philosophy of what a highly legible dial should be.
Moreover, this is the first-ever watch that uses the IWC’s in-house 32110 calibers, whose power reserves can last for three days. It also comes with a green NATO strap that gives a vibe of military appeal, and an inner iron-made case functions well to protect itself from any magnetic interference.
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Aquatimer Chronograph Edition “Expedition Charles Darwin”
The brand created a deliberate design when they have chosen the bronze material to be used to produce this Aquatimer’s case. It was created to pay homage to the HMS Beagle (a ship that Charles Darwin used when navigating the Galapagos Island). Plus, it also a material that patinas over time, an oxidised layer which can naturally form out of air, sun and salt exposure, and other pollutants. This is why each model can develop its own unique look and identity as a timepiece.
Besides, the brand has decided to release this timepiece to accompany you if you are on multiple expeditions as it comes with a SafeDive system. It features a water-resistant rating of up to 30 Bar/300 meters.
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Portugieser Hand-Wound Eight Days Edition “150 Years”
One greatest feature this watch owns is its power reserve of eight days, which only means that you only need to wind it once a week. The name 150 Years nomenclature pertains to the 150 years celebration of IWC in 2018 – this Portugieser was released together with other 28 watches as part of the ‘Jubilee Collection’ – engraved can be found on the timepiece’s movement, visible through its case back window. This specific model was only limited to 1,000 pieces and stayed true to the Portugieser’s simplistic design language. But this time, it also comes with a white lacquer dial and blued steel hands.
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Big Pilot’s Watch
And finally, we arrived at one of the best-known timepieces that IWC ever released in the market: the Big Pilot’s Watch. You can trace the watch’s history back to 1940, in which the brand first started producing Big Pilot’s intended for the German Air Force. The design used and debuted back then can still be seen on models produced today. It comes with a sans-serif typeface for the numerals and features subtle stylings like a triangle flanked by two dots at 12 o’clock. The recent version of this model was released in 2002 with a new size of 46mm case, a power reserve dial at three that can last up to seven days, and a date display at 6.
In a Nutshell
International Watch Company or IWC was recognized as the 9th Swiss company worldwide that produces high-caliber watches, and that values hold over time. The brand’s watches are a combination of both classic and good taste, making them very impressive. They ensure to mix technology with luxury style in every timepiece they produce in the market. If you want to check out any of the IWC watches above, simply visit The Watch Company.
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