IWC

Some of the famous Swiss watch companies were founded either by a German, Greek, Italian or French. As concerning the company which is known today as the International Watchmaking Company then it was founded by an American. The name of its founder was Florentine Jones who had the idea to open his watch factory in Switzerland so he could enjoy the lower wages of the Swiss workers and the precision of Swiss movements. His goal was to manufacture timepieces in Switzerland and later export them to the United States.Unfortunately, his idea proved to be unsuccessful because of high taxes. Throughout its history the International Watchmaking Company, later IWC, was led by several managers and its ownership was changed several times. It had a history that can be compared to a rollercoaster with its ups and downs, successes and failures. Nevertheless the company was able to remain on the watch market and today it is among the most famous watch brands in Switzerland and in the world.With the goal to created only the finest timepieces, with precision timekeeping, technical innovation and made of durable materials the IWC is one of the leading companies in international sales of timepieces. Although IWC suffered many radical and less radical changes it has found today its niche on the global watch market. Some of the most remarkable milestones of IWC can be stated: the first digital timepiece designed by IWC back in 1885 and the first anti-magnetic watch for pilots, created during the First World War. IWC also broke the record of a watch's water resistance with its Ingenieur, the timepiece could resist the pressure at 2000 meters under water; the company also had created a marvelous innovation which was named Da Vinci and which represents a chronograph with a perpetual calendar, the calendar being programmed mechanically for the next five hundred years. In 2000 the company launched its 5000 Calibre, which is a mechanical movement that includes a power reserve able to make the automatic movement to work for seven days without moving the timepiece. Some of the most remarkable models from IWC collections include: Da Vinci: Small Da Vinci, Grande Complication and Portofino Automatic.The first watch include a mechanical chronograph movement. Though being a small version the timepiece includes several innovations. The timepiece has a self-winding mechanism as well as a perpetual calendar, four digit display of the years and it is able to display in a perpetual mode the moon phase. This model is available in 18 carat rose gold case, having a crocodile strap painted brown, or a stainless steel case with a crocodile strap painted black.The Grande Complication is a watch with a limited edition of 50 pieces. This timepiece is considered to be a symbol of uniqueness and exclusivity. The movement of the watch is self-winding. It includes a chronograph, a perpetual calendar as well as a minute repeater. The mechanism of the watch is made of 659 parts and it includes a rapid calendar advance which is activated with the help of the crown. The model can be seen in platinum, 18 carat yellow gold, having the strap made of platinum, gold or crocodile leather.Portofino Automatic is elegant due to its simplicity. All its movements are housed inside a convex sapphire glass. The watch is self-winding having centre seconds. The latter have a stop function as well as a date indicator. The timepiece is available in 18 carat rose gold or in stainless steel and its strap comes in crocodile leather or stainless steel bracelet.