The heritage of IWC Watches and what makes them exceptional

“I've always loved watches my whole life. When I was growing up, I always thought of having a great watch as that next step - of making it, of a rite of passage” said James Marsden.  

And who can deny that watches truly are a rite of passage? The moment you wear a watch for the first time, you somehow, automatically shift into the adult mode. No wonder they make such amazing wedding and graduation gifts!

Although the world is growing into a digital era faster and faster by the day, there is something eternally romantic and everlasting about an analogue watch, that no digital watch can ever replace.

Speaking of analogue watches, who hasn’t heard of IWC Watches - the stellar watchmakers who with their passion for technical and horological inventiveness, have grown to establish an international reputation?  Let’s take a walk back in time to revisit how IWC has achieved the status of being one of the leaders in Swiss watchmaking.

The history of IWC began in 1868 when Florentine Ariosto Jones, who was actually an American watchmaker and engineer, travelled all the way to Switzerland and founded the "International Watch Company". With a skilful Swiss crew and a combination of the most modern machines from abroad, he hoped to initially only manufacture high-quality mechanisms and watch parts for the American market.

But later when he had the chance of meeting Johann Heinrich Moser, who was himself a watchmaker and a manufacturer from Schaffhausen, he realized what his true calling was - creating exceptional masterpieces, and that led to him setting up the company of IWC there.

Some years later, Johannes Rauschenbach-Vogel bought IWC from its founders in 1880. Soon after, IWC started to develop pocket watch mechanisms that till date, once revised, can reach the precision of a chronometer. These IWC watches are extremely rare now and are oft sought after like collector’s items.

After the turn of the century in 1930's, IWC first presented the watch that was specially designed for aviation enthusiasts with its special antimagnetic mechanism which won over hearts worldwide. Take, for example, the Big Pilot's watch which was launched in 1940 Soon after around 1948, the Mark 11 was launched, which appeared almost armoured against all magnetic fields.

.

By the end of the 1940s, during the hard competitive times amongst all the Swiss manufacturers, IWC created the first automatic mechanism that you could wind up from both sides, which is still followed to date.

The IWC 1955 Ingenieur which has become an object of desire for horologists was the most advanced watch of its time. It was so reliable that even Edmund Hillary climbed the highest mountains, relying on it!

Established in 2011, the Phoenix Watch Company specializes in the sales of luxury watches in partnership with our company in Europe in operation for well over 20 years. We are located in the centre of the busy shopping and tourist district of Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong and our core expertise is the sale of new and used watches belonging to some of the best Swiss brands listed like IWC, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Rolex, Cartier and much more.

Over the years we have built an invaluable suppliers database with companies around the world, attended an extensive list of watch conventions thereby giving us a solid reputation in the industry and a company that you can trust in. We have significant experience satisfying the needs of customers all over Europe, Asia & America, with a reputation for having the best deals both on new and used luxury watches. Our new watches are sold with box, international warranty and kits provided by the manufacturer.

We at Phoenix Watch Company, hope that you choose us to be your partner in selecting the watch of your dreams.