Turning 150 next year, IWC Schaffhausen will celebrate the milestone with a Jubilee collection of 27 limited-edition models from the Portugieser, Portofino, Pilot's Watches and Da Vinci families.
The commemorative collection will be launched at the 2018 Salon International de Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) watch fair in Geneva next month. As a prelude, IWC has already unveiled five of the timepieces bearing the Jubilee insignia "150 Years", either as a medallion or as an engraving.
One of them is a stupendous reinterpretation of the Pallweber pocket watch, which displayed hours and minutes in large numerals on rotating discs.
In the summer of 1884, IWC ushered in the digital era by introducing the revolutionary pocket watches with jumping numerals, based on the Pallweber system developed by Salzburg-based watchmaker Josef Pallweber.
The Pallweber pocket watches, of which around 20,000 were produced in Schaffhausen, were a commercial success but discontinued in 1890. It was only almost a century later that digital time display reappeared, with the advent of quartz watches.
Available in 250 pieces, IWC Tribute to Pallweber Edition "150 Years" references the historic timepiece as a red gold wristwatch, whose white dial features a lacquered finish, white display discs, and a blued seconds hand.
IWC engineers developed a new solution for the technically sophisticated digital display, resulting in the 94200 calibre offering a 60-hour power reserve.
The other four pre-SIHH 2018 pieces also share imprinted dials in white or blue, an effect achieved by a process of applying several layers of lacquer, reminiscent of heritage enamelled finishes inspired by the dial of the Pallweber pocket watch.
A limited edition of only 15 pieces, the platinum Portugieser Constant-Force Tourbillon Edition "150 Years" is powered by the 94805 calibre offering a 96-hour power reserve. Assuring a high level of precision, the constant-force tourbillon is combined with a single moon phase display, only requiring adjustment by one day after 577.5 years.
With the tourbillon visible at 12 o'clock and an integrated moon phase and month display at 6 o'clock, Portugieser Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Edition "150 Years" is housed in an 18-carat gold case for the special edition of 50 pieces powered by 51950 calibre generating a power reserve of seven days.
The moon phase display is positioned at 12 o'clock on the elegant Da Vinci Automatic Moon Phase 36 Edition "150 Years". Demonstrating IWC's tradition in crafting elaborately-decorated jewellery watches, the limited edition of 50 watches sparkle with 206 pure white diamonds, amounting to 2.26 carats, set on the red gold case and moving lugs.
Available in 500 pieces, the stainless steel Da Vinci Automatic Edition "150 Years" is driven by 82200 calibre with Pellaton winding and provides a 60-hour power reserve.
Components subject to pronounced stress, such as the pawls or the 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, in showcasing IWC's craftsmanship.
