IWC Schaffhausen is turning 150 next year and to celebrate this milestone, the company is set to unveil a special Jubilee collection of 27 new models at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) watch fair in Geneva, including limited editions of the Portugieser, Portofino, Pilot's Watches and Da Vinci.
To mark this occasion, IWC is also launching the IWC Tribute to Pallweber Edition "150 Years", its first-ever wristwatch to feature the original digital hours and minute display as it appeared on the Pallweber pocket watches back in 1884. The one aesthetic element all these timepieces share is their imprinted dial in white or blue, an effect achieved by a process of applying several layers of lacquer.
IWC Tribute to Pallweber Edition "150 Years"
The IWC Tribute to Pallweber Edition "150 Years" Ref. IW505002 has an 18-carat red gold case, a white dial with a lacquered finish, white display discs, and a blued seconds hand. The watch is available in a limited edition of 250 in 18-carat red gold. As a reference to the design of the historic Pallweber watches and a tribute to F. A. Jones, the windows of the digital display are labelled as "Hours" and "Minutes".
IWC Tribute to Pallweber Edition "150 Years", Ref. IW505002
When creating the IWC-manufactured 94200 calibre, the watch designers developed a new solution for the technically sophisticated digital display (patent pending). While toothed cogs moved the discs in the historic Pallweber pocket watches, the impulse that advances the single-minute disc now is supplied by a separate wheel train with a barrel of its own. A release mechanism that establishes a connection to the watch's main wheel train unlocks the train every 60 seconds and then immediately locks it again. After 10 minutes, the single-minute disc moves the 10-minute disc forward by one position. Every 60th minute, the hour ring jumps to the next numeral. The fact that the flow of power in the main wheel train is uninfluenced by the separate wheel train guarantees a precise rate and a high 60-hour power reserve.
Portugieser Constant-Force Tourbillon Edition "150 Years"
The Portugieser Constant-Force Tourbillon Edition "150 Years" Ref. IW590202 has a platinum case, a white dial with a lacquered finish, and blued hands. It is available in a limited edition of 15. For the first time, the new IWC-manufactured hand-wound 94805 calibre with a power reserve of 96 hours combines a constant-force tourbillon with a perpetual moon phase display that only needs to be adjusted by 1 day after 577.5 years. The patented constant-force mechanism transmits completely even impulses to the escape wheel. In conjunction with the tourbillon, which compensates for the negative influences of gravity on the watch's oscillating system, this achieves an exceptionally high level of precision.
Portugieser Constant-Force Tourbillon Edition "150 Years", Ref. IW590202
IWC-manufactured hand-wound 94805 calibre
Portugieser Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Edition "150 Years"
The Portugieser Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Edition "150 Years" Ref. IW504501 combines a perpetual calendar with a tourbillon on the dial for the first time. This spectacular watch has an 18-carat red gold case, a white dial with a lacquered finish, and blued hands. It is available in a limited edition of 50 watches. The watch is driven by the newly developed IWC-manufactured 51950 calibre. This is an extension of the basic 51900 calibre, with the addition of a perpetual calendar. Made of 82 individual components and weighing just 0.635 grams, the tourbillon is visible at "12 o'clock" because the watch designers opened the calendar advance ring to integrate the moon phase at "6 o'clock" in the month display disc. With its solid gold rotor, the automatic winding system generates a power reserve of 7 days.
Portugieser Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Edition "150 Years", Ref. IW504501
Da Vinci Automatic Moon Phase 36 Edition "150 Years"
With this elegant timepiece, IWC takes up its former tradition of elaborately decorated jewellery watches. This was a style the company cultivated towards the end of the 1980s and during the 1990s with models like the diamond-set Lady Da Vinci in yellow gold, Reference 8435. The Da Vinci Automatic Moon Phase 36 Edition "150 Years" Ref. IW459304 has an 18-carat red gold case, a white dial with a lacquered finish, and blued hands. It is available in a limited edition of 50 watches. The watch has a moon phase display at "12 o'clock". The case and moving horns are completely covered by 206 pure white diamonds amounting to 2.26 carats.
Da Vinci Automatic Moon Phase 36 Edition "150 Years" Ref. IW459304
Da Vinci Automatic Moon Phase 36 Edition "150 Years" caseback
Da Vinci Automatic Edition "150 Years"
The Da Vinci Automatic Edition "150 Years" Ref. IW358102 with its small seconds at "6 o'clock" is the first watch to feature the new IWC-manufactured 82200 calibre. The watch has a stainless steel case, a blue dial with a lacquered finish, and rhodium-plated hands. It is available in a limited edition of 500 watches. The newly developed IWC-manufactured 82200 calibre is an automatic movement with Pellaton winding and boasts a power reserve of 60 hours. Components in the system subject to pronounced stress, such as the pawls or the heart-shaped cam, are made of virtually wear-free ceramic. The rotor is skeletonised and offers a view of the movement decorated with circular graining and Geneva stripes.
Da Vinci Automatic Edition "150 Years", Ref. IW358102
IWC-manufactured 82200 calibre