Schaffhausen, Switzerland
International Watch Company (IWC)
VerifiedMachine-assisted precision movements; pocket watches and pilots' watches
History
Founded by an American watchmaker who intended to combine American machine methods with Swiss labour, IWC settled in German-speaking Schaffhausen and built a reputation for robust high-grade pocket watch calibres and, later, pilots' and engineers' wristwatches.
The company was established in 1868 in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, by the American watchmaker and engineer Florentine Ariosto Jones to manufacture high-quality timepieces for the American market. Jones aimed to combine skilled Swiss labor with the latest American machine production methods to centralize manufacturing. Following financial difficulties, the firm transitioned to Swiss ownership, eventually being acquired by Johannes Rauschenbach-Vogel in 1879.
The company remained in family hands for decades before being purchased by Ernst Jakob Homberger in 1929, and it has belonged to the Richemont luxury group since 2000. Today, IWC maintains a focus on mechanical horology, operating a modern manufacturing center that opened in Schaffhausen in 2018.
The extended history summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage. Confirm key dates in period documents before relying on them.
Timeline
International Watch Company (IWC)'s recorded dates, dated events from this profile and its sources, and dated pieces and sales from the object catalogue. Dates are as each record gives them.
1250 · Career
IWC maintains its headquarters and a manufacturing center in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, employing approximately 1250 staff.
1868 · Career
Founded (Schaffhausen)
1868 · Career
The company was established in 1868 in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, by the American watchmaker and engineer Florentine Ariosto Jones to manufacture high-quality timepieces for the American market.
1879 · Career
Following financial difficulties, the firm transitioned to Swiss ownership, eventually being acquired by Johannes Rauschenbach-Vogel in 1879.
circa 1909 · Catalogued piece
ca. 1910 · Catalogued piece
circa 1920 · Catalogued piece
1929 · Career
The company remained in family hands for decades before being purchased by Ernst Jakob Homberger in 1929, and it has belonged to the Richemont luxury group since 2000.
1950s · Catalogued piece
1960s · Catalogued piece
late 1970s · Catalogued piece
1980s · Catalogued piece
Current watchmaking & later fate
- Since 2000, the company has belonged to the Swiss luxury goods group Richemont.
- IWC maintains its headquarters and a manufacturing center in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, employing approximately 1250 staff.
- The company produces several distinct collections, including the Portugieser, Portofino, Ingenieur, Da Vinci, Aquatimer, and various pilot's watches.
As stated in the references listed under Sources, retrieved 2026-10-27. Ownership and collections change; check the maker's own announcements for the latest position.
Key models
- Portugieser Eternal Calendar
- This watch was recognized as a secular perpetual calendar that accounts for the complex Gregorian leap year rules, winning a GPHG award in 2024.
Major innovations
- Jones-calibre pocket watch movements combining American methods with Swiss finishing
- IWC developed an automatic winding system using an eccentric cam and two pawls, famously implemented in the Calibre 85 series.
Known markings
- 'International Watch Co. Schaffhausen'
- Probus Scafusia mark in later periods
- The firm identifies itself through the trade name IWC International Watch Co.
Serial numbers
The firm holds production records and issues archive extracts for documented serials.
Collecting significance
Early Jones-era movements are the principal research interest for pocket watch collectors.
Identification and dating notes
- The Jones-calibre pocket watches represent the earliest era of the company's production history.
In the object catalogue
44 catalogued objects are recorded under International Watch Company (IWC). Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.
- 1960s IWC Calatrava-style Wristwatch Ref. R1205Hand-wound wristwatch · 1960s
- International Watch Co. 14K yellow gold open-face pocket watchOpen-face watch · circa 1918
- International Watch Co. Flying Tourbillon RegulatorTourbillon & karrusel watch · 1993
- International Watch Co. Hunting-Cased Pocket WatchHunter-case watch · circa 1920
- International Watch Co. White Gold Openface Pocket WatchOpen-face watch · circa 1927
- International Watch Company (IWC) Rose Gold WristwatchHand-wound wristwatch · 20th century
- IWC 18k Gold Hunting Cased Pocket WatchHunter-case watch · circa 1975
- IWC 18K Yellow Gold Calibre 89 WristwatchHand-wound wristwatch · 1960
- IWC Aquatimer Deep Two, Reference IW354702Diver's watch · Circa 2011
- IWC Aquatimer Reference 816 ADDiver's watch · circa 1970
- IWC Automatic Dresswatch Ref. R810AAutomatic wristwatch · 1960s
- IWC Automatic Reference 1872 with Türler Signed DialAutomatic wristwatch · 1970s
Show 32 more
- IWC Calibre 852 Centre Seconds Pinion (Ref. 275)Balance, escapement & train part
- IWC Calibre 88 Oversized WristwatchHand-wound wristwatch · 1950s
- IWC Da Vinci, Reference 3750Perpetual calendar watch · Circa 1993
- IWC Grande Complication Ref. 3770Repeater & striking watch · circa 1991
- IWC Grande Complication Ref. 3770 WristwatchChronograph · circa 1999
- IWC GST Chronograph Ref. 3707Chronograph · circa 1998
- IWC Ingenieur Ref. 9701 'Crest of Oman'Quartz & electronic watch · circa 1985
- IWC Ingenieur SL Quartz 'Jumbo' Ref. 9701 with Crowned Coat of Oman DialQuartz & electronic watch · circa 1985
- IWC Lépine Pocket WatchOpen-face watch · ca. 1910
- IWC Luftwaffe Observation Wristwatch (B-Uhr)Military & trench watch · 1940
- IWC Mark 11 RAF-Issued 6B/346 WristwatchMilitary & trench watch · 1948
- IWC Mark XI for the Royal New Zealand Air Force, Ref. 2612Military & trench watch · circa 1940s
- IWC Peerless pocket watch movement, circa 1909Pocket watch movement · circa 1909
- IWC Pilot's Chronograph IW371702Chronograph · 2017
- IWC Pilot's Chronograph SpitfireChronograph
- IWC Pilot's Chronograph Top Gun 'Blue Angels'Chronograph
- IWC Pilot's Watch ChronographChronograph · 2010-2020
- IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Edition “Lake Tahoe”Chronograph · circa 2024
- IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph Top Gun Miramar, Ref. IW38802Chronograph · circa 2012
- IWC Porsche Design Chronograph TitanChronograph · 1980s to early 1990s
- IWC Porsche Design Compass Watch Ref. 3511Automatic wristwatch · 1993
- IWC Porsche Design Ocean 2000 Bundeswehr Divers WatchDiver's watch · 1980s
- IWC Porsche Design Ocean 2000 Dive WatchDiver's watch · circa 1990s
- IWC Portugieser Tourbillon Mystère Limited Edition WristwatchTourbillon watch · 2008
- IWC Portuguese Chronographe Rattrapante Reference 3712Chronograph · circa 2004
- IWC Portuguese Répétition Minutes Ref. 5240Repeater & striking watch · circa 2000
- IWC Portuguese Tourbillon MystèreTourbillon watch · circa 2010
- IWC Ref. 2400 Stainless Steel WristwatchAutomatic wristwatch · 1970s
- IWC Ref. 5450 Hunting Case Pocket Watch with Full Calendar and Moon PhaseHunter-case watch · circa 1983
- IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser 7-Day Power Reserve Wrist WatchAutomatic wristwatch · Circa 2014
- IWC Yacht-Club II reference 4512Quartz & electronic watch · late 1970s
- Porsche Design by IWC Compass Watch reference 3510Hand-wound wristwatch · 1980s
Provenance
Where the 44 catalogued pieces by International Watch Company (IWC) were recorded, with the collectors, owners and sales their records name.
Provenance map
Each piece is linked to the museum, auction house or dealer whose record it comes from, and to any other house or collection its own provenance names. Select a name to see its pieces.
Auction houses · 25 pieces
Dealers & other listings · 19 pieces
Antiquorum
Auction house · 10 pieces · Directory entry
International Watch Co. 14K yellow gold open-face pocket watchOpen-face watch · circa 1918 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 78
International Watch Co. Flying Tourbillon RegulatorTourbillon & karrusel watch · 1993 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 286
International Watch Co. Hunting-Cased Pocket WatchHunter-case watch · circa 1920 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 132
IWC Grande Complication Ref. 3770Repeater & striking watch · circa 1991 · Record source
Antiquorum: July 17, 1992 · lot 261
IWC GST Chronograph Ref. 3707Chronograph · circa 1998 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 73
IWC Ingenieur Ref. 9701 'Crest of Oman'Quartz & electronic watch · circa 1985 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 131
IWC Portuguese Chronographe Rattrapante Reference 3712Chronograph · circa 2004 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 91
IWC Portuguese Répétition Minutes Ref. 5240Repeater & striking watch · circa 2000 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 284
IWC Portuguese Tourbillon MystèreTourbillon watch · circa 2010 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 230
IWC Ref. 2400 Stainless Steel WristwatchAutomatic wristwatch · 1970s · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 555
Auction history
| House | Sale & lot | Object |
|---|---|---|
| Antiquorum | lot 78 | International Watch Co. 14K yellow gold open-face pocket watch |
| Antiquorum | lot 286 | International Watch Co. Flying Tourbillon Regulator |
| Antiquorum | lot 132 | International Watch Co. Hunting-Cased Pocket Watch |
| Christie's | lot 354 | International Watch Co. White Gold Openface Pocket Watch |
| Henry's Auktionshaus | lot 3318 | IWC 18k Gold Hunting Cased Pocket Watch |
| Phillips | lot 93 | IWC Aquatimer Deep Two, Reference IW354702 |
| Auktionen Dr. Crott | lot 289 | IWC Aquatimer Reference 816 AD |
| Sotheby's | lot 407 | IWC Da Vinci, Reference 3750 |
| Antiquorum | July 17, 1992 · lot 261 | IWC Grande Complication Ref. 3770 |
| Auktionen Dr. Crott | lot 127 | IWC Grande Complication Ref. 3770 Wristwatch |
Show 15 more
Each line is copied from the object's source record and is not independently verified. Holders are as recorded when the piece was catalogued: museum objects may not be on display, and sold lots have since changed hands.
Photographs
Photographs are illustrative examples of the type, not necessarily the exact object described. Verify details against the source file page.
Sources & references
- International Watch Company, Wikipedia (German), retrieved 2026-10-27 (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
- International Watch Company, Wikipedia (French), retrieved 2026-10-27 (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Published manufacturer and auction catalogue literature
Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.