Brand Histories

1841 • Florentine A. Jones born 15 February. Descended from a Florentine family of watchmakers, worked for various watch makers in Boston.

1869 • Florentine.A. Jones arrived in Schaffhouse and met Johann Heinrich Moser.

1871 • Production of first fob-watch movements.

1875 •First bankruptcy and new director, M. Seeland.

1879 • Second bankruptcy, firm taken over by machine maker/tool maker Rauschenbach.

1914 • Appearance of wristwatches at IWC, with officers’ watches, driven notably by caliber 64.

1935 • IWC presented its first wristwatch for aviators with a black dial, large luminous figures, clearly visible luminous hands and a rotating lunette with orientation arrow.

1939 • Introduction of the AVIATOR WATCH.

1940 • Professional aviator’s watch perfected with a diameter of 55mm, the MARK X; this chronometer was worn by countless airline pilots from 1948.
Many high flyers in business also counted on the MARK XI.

1950 • IWC caused a sensation with automatic movements of unusual design.
The caliber 85, used for the pilot function, was constantly improved in the following years.

1978 • Takeover by INSTEK A.G., subsidiary of German VDO tachymeter manufacturer.

1985 • Launch of the DA VINCI, with automatic chronograph and perpetual calendar, and also IL DESTRIERO SCAFUSIA, with fly-back chronograph, perpetual calendar, tourbillon and minute repeater.

1991 • Merger with the German group MANNESMANN. IWC, JAEGER-LECOULTRE and A. LANGE & SOHNE regrouped by holding company LES MANUFACTURES HORLOGERES-LMH.

2000 • Group taken over by RICHEMONT group
Introduction of 5000 caliber and launch of 5000 of the PORTUGESE AUTOMATIC 2000.

2001 • Launch of GST line.

2002 • Reissue of the prestigious 46 mm. diameter AVIATOR’S WATCH.

2003 • Launch of the PORTUGUESE PERPETUAL CALENDAR with the in-house 50611 caliber guaranteed accurate to within one day every 577 year for calculations of the moon’s position.