Tag Archives: IWC Schaffhausen

IWC Unveils The First Ever Luminous Ceramic Watch Prototype

IWC Schaffhausen has announced the debut of Ceralume®, a groundbreaking luminous ceramic technology that marks a first in the watchmaking industry. This innovation allows for the creation of fully luminous ceramic watch cases, an achievement realized through a patent-pending process developed by IWC’s engineering division, XPL.

Ceralume® integrates high-grade Super-LumiNova® pigments into ceramic powders, resulting in a material that emits a bright blueish light for over 24 hours. This advancement cements IWC’s position at the forefront of ceramic watch technology, a field where the company has demonstrated expertise for nearly four decades. Just imagining the possibilities for what IWC can do with a material like this is exciting not only for the brand but also for its collectors around the world.

And just as a teaser to hint at possibly what is to come, quite recently, at the previous Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix, Sir Lewis Hamilton was spotted with a this concept piece on his wrist as he stylishly made his way around the paddocks.

“Creating the first fully luminous ceramic case is a testament to our pioneering spirit and innovative prowess,” said Dr. Lorenz Brunner, IWC’s Department Manager for Research & Innovation. “The development of Ceralume® involved overcoming significant challenges to ensure maximum homogeneity and adherence to our stringent quality standards.”

SIHH 2019: IWC Schaffhausen Pilots Watch fronts the game this year

At every watch fair where releases upon releases are unveiled to the public in a day, one question tends to stand out among collectors and fans – are brands tied to just their icons? It’s an important point to note.

We, as part of the media, understand and know a brand’s heritage all the way through, remembering references from a time that has past. More often than not, however, the public tends to not share the same sentiment. For a larger demographic that appreciates watches and not the watch industry as a whole, a brand like IWC Schaffhausen tends to only signal “pilot’s watches” in their head. The same folk that would have never understood why Rolex would create the Cellini, or that Audemars Piguet has any other reference than Royal Oak and its larger counterparts.

IW371815_Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph TOP GUN Ceratanium_Lifestyle

While that may have been the online response from IWC’s Da Vinci campaign in 2017 (that did well, mind you), 2019 sees IWC pushing what some have called the brand’s icon back to the forefront. It’s a win-win situation for all, of course. The people who love IWC timepieces for the one collection have plenty to celebrate, and the media itself has a fantastic collection to review.

IWC Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph TOP GUN Ceratanium

While much of the fanfare at IWC’s SIHH booth has been about the seven-watch collection for the Pilot’s Watch Spitfire range, we’re going to have to give a mention to the Top Gun timepieces from this year. With four pieces in total, the Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph Top Gun Ceratanium leads the pack.

The all-black stealth piece sees IWC’s titanium and ceramic alloy used in a 44mm case, as well as all case components, including the push-buttons and pin buckle. The 79420 calibre is an automatic double chronograph that lets its user record intermediate times.

 

IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Edition Mojave Desert

If the all black look isn’t quite your thing, there’s IWC’s new Mojave Desert variant of the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun. The colour, derived from a combination of zirconium and other metallic oxides according to the brand, matches the flying suits of the US Navy’s pilots based in the China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station in the Mojave Desert.

The watch is a limited edition though, with just 500 pieces available worldwide once it’s released.

IWC Schaffhausen celebrates its 150 years of excellence at Singapore’s exhibition

A celebrated Swiss watch manufacturer, IWC Schaffhausen is celebrating its 150th anniversary with an exclusive retrospective exhibition at ION Orchard, Singapore this May.

Decked in an industrial-style decor that mirrors the IWC manufacture in its early days, the exhibition is a celebration of all of IWC’s past glorious inventions and the new Jubilee watch collection – set to open from 1st May to 13th May 2018.

Back in 1868, a young man aimed to bring his vision of making the best pocket watch movements to life. Travelling all the way from America to Switzerland, Florentine Ariosto Jones established a watch company and that was IWC Schaffhausen.

Under his leadership, the Maison has gained international recognition for its innovation such as Special Watch for Pilots Ref. 436 (1936), the Yacht Club Automatic Ref. 811 (1967) and Lepine Pallweber III pocket watch (1886), which will grace the Singapore’s exhibition.

And this is also your chance to admire the masterpieces of the new Jubilee collection, namely the diamond-encrusted Da Vinci Automatic Moon Phase 36 Edition “150 Years” and the Portugieser Constant-Force Tourbillon Edition “150 years”.

On the anniversary celebration, Managing Director for IWC South East Asia Mr. Stanislas Rambaud says, “For 150 years, IWC has remained true to the legacy of its founder F.A. Jones and made many lasting impressions from both an artistic and a technical perspective in the world of fine watchmaking”.

 

The IWC Schaffhausen 150th Anniversary exhibition will take place in ION Orchard, Singapore from 1st May to 13th May 2018.

Find out more on www.iwc.com.