IWC Vintage

IWC Vintage Collection

In 2008, the oldest and the most prestigious Swiss watchmaker IWC celebrated its 140th anniversary. To mark the occasion, the Swiss manufacturer launched the Vintage Collection with six iconic models which represent contemporary reinterpretations from the company’s luxury watch repertoire.

IWC Vintage Collection offers watches made of platinum, 18-carat white gold, 18-carat rose gold or stainless steel. They are equipped with IWC hand-wound and automatic movements. Each of these six contemporary reinterpretations is based on the model that inspired one of the company’s current families of timepieces.

Important Figures in the Company’s istory

In the early days of flying, pilots’ timepieces were used as primary tools in aircraft. These navigational watches were equipped to contend with strong vibrations, wildly fluctuating temperatures, magnetic fields and in order to preserve excellent readability even in deep darkness conditions. In the mid-1930’s, IWC launched its first “IWC Special Pilot’s Watch” that satisfied all these requirements. Its cockpit-like design has become a standard feature of classical pilots’ watches.

Another IWC legendary watch that was reinterpreted is the first Portuguese timepiece. This watch from 1939 owes its name to two Portuguese watch importers who requested an extremely precise timekeeper from IWC. That was the first pocket-watch-style wristwatch housed in a giant-sized case.

Besides these two watches, the Heritage Collection also brings the other four families (Ingenieur Automatic, Aquatimer Automatic, Da Vinci Automatic and Portofino Hand-Wound) inspired with the company’s past, as well as one special edition timepiece (Ingenieur Automatic Edition Laureus Sport for Good Foundation Watch).