They Said it Would Never Work
Celebrating 150 years of International Watch Company’s untiring quest for engineering excellence How would you celebrate turning 150? Skydive, helicopter flight through the Grand Canyon, Michelin star meal perhaps? IWC Schaffhausen celebrated this year by releasing a special limited edition 29-model jubilee collection, as well as launching its first-ever wristwatch to feature the original digital hours (numbers on rotating discs, rather than hands pointing toward numerals) and minute display, just as it had appeared on the iconic Pallweber pocket watch back in 1884.
Founded in 1868 by Boston native and American watchmaking pioneer Florentine Ariosto Jones, it is Jones’ entrepreneurship and untiring quest for engineering excellence that ultimately inspired and influenced IWC’s latest celebratory release.
To toast the Swiss based specialists here in the UK, watch and jewellery partner of The Essential Journal, David M. Robinson hosted an evening of whisky and watches at Liverpool’s The Puffin Rooms. Invited guests had the opportunity to explore the Jubilee Collection that included limited-edition models from the Portugieser, Portofino, Pilot’s Watch and Da Vinci families, as well as the IWC Tribute to Pallweber Edition “150 Years”.
The revisiting of such iconic designs gave IWC the opportunity to bring them together as one striking collection through a timeless design code. Each bearing the Jubilee insignia ‘150 Years’, the watches also share a white or blue dial which is produced through a long and complex process of high-quality lacquering, polishing, brushing and imprinting influenced by the historic Pallweber watch and Portugieser model.
For more information on and to view IWC’s Jubilee Collection visit your local David M. Robinson shop or head to davidmrobinson.co.uk
Words by Miles KENNEY
Images Credits by Jack FINNIGAN
