Have you heard of IWC (International Watch Company) ?
It may not be as well known as Rolex or Omega, but it is a luxury watch brand that is recognized by those in the know.
This time, let's take a look at IWC's history, features, and popular models.
Introducing the luxury watch IWC
history
It was founded in Schaffhausen, Switzerland by American watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones and Swiss watchmaker Johann Heinrich Moser. While many Swiss watchmakers have their roots in the French-speaking world, such as Geneva, IWC has its roots in Schaffhausen, which is German-speaking.
As a result, rather than the highly decorative Swiss watches, they produced simple, sturdy, practical watches typical of Germany . The brand image of "simple and strong" also has its roots in this history. Their official motto is as follows, which shows how much they care about it. It is this "care" that has kept IWC's value so high, which is why they are bought at high prices even when used. Let's take a closer look at this aspect.
Our motto of excellence - "Excellent and thorough craftsmanship from Schaffhausen" - reflects our unwavering determination to produce highly precise timepieces that will stand the test of time and be handed down through generations.
Source: https://www.iwc.com/ja/services/maintenance.html
Highly rated by IWC: In-house standards
IWC does not participate in chronometer standards and instead sets its own, even stricter, standards .
The chronometer standard test lasts for 15 days, and the movement's accuracy is checked in five different positions and at three different temperatures. A watch is certified if the daily rate is within minus 4 seconds or plus 6 seconds. If you consider that the standard is even stricter than that, you can see the commitment to crafting high-precision watches.
IWC's Highly Rated Point 2: Lifetime Warranty
It is often said that luxury watches are "a lifetime item," but even if you take good care of them, there will come a day when they will no longer be usable. When that happens, it can be very unfortunate if you can't repair it because production has been discontinued and there are no parts available. However, IWC advertises a "lifetime warranty" for its watches, so there is no need to worry about that.
Repairing old models is very costly because parts and manufacturing know-how must be stored. For this reason, very few brands offer a "lifetime warranty." For watches, the world's three major watch brands, such as Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, and Audemars Piguet, offer a "lifetime warranty," but many other luxury brands do not.
Its value will last not only your lifetime but also your children and grandchildren's generations, and it truly is "value that does not change over time." For this reason, IWC watches are also very popular as antique watches (second-hand watches).
Introducing popular IWC models
As mentioned above, IWC watches can be expected to be highly valued even when purchased second-hand, so let's take a look at what models are available and those that are actually purchased at high prices.
IWC Pilot Watch
As the name suggests, pilot watches are models that were originally made for pilots. The large crown of the Big Pilot Watch shown in the photo is a remnant of a time when it was designed to allow pilots to adjust the watch while wearing a flight suit and thick gloves. In addition, many other features have been incorporated to make the watch easy to use for pilots in the cockpit.
For example, the hands are often made of fluorescent paint, and a white triangle is placed at the 12 o'clock position so that pilots can read the time instantly even in poor visibility. This high visibility is one of the characteristics of pilot watches . In addition, the watches are highly resistant to magnetism in consideration of the magnetism of the cockpit.
Besides the Big Pilot's Watch, there are other popular pilot watches. One of them is the Mark Series. The first Mark 11 was developed for the British military and was used for over 30 years. It was followed by the Mark 12, Mark 15, Mark 16, Mark 17, and Mark 18. The Mark Series is quite popular in the second-hand market due to its history and the large number of models.
IWC Indure
Ingenieur means "engineer" in German. Originally, it was a model that thoroughly pursued "magnetic resistance" so that engineers could use it in places with strong magnetic fields. However, in recent years, it has been transformed into a sports model, such as collaborating with motor sports.
In addition, the previous Ingenieur model was designed by Gerald Genta, who is also known as the "Picasso of the watch world," and its timeless design has made it popular.
IWC Portuguese
This model was born in the 1930s when a Portuguese watch merchant requested that a highly accurate wristwatch be made. Equipped with a pocket watch movement, the result was a large wristwatch.
Even today, it remains one of IWC's most popular models with its sophisticated design . Among them, the Portuguese Chronograph has a particularly large fan base and is highly rated in the second-hand market.
Change the strap on your IWC Portuguese watch and enjoy fashion!
The Portuguese is extremely popular due to its sophisticated design and can be worn in any occasion or at any age, and most of them come with leather straps. Leather straps are the best match for the beautiful design of the Portuguese. However, leather straps are sensitive to sweat, so it is said that wearing them in the summer is not recommended.
You can enjoy wearing a leather strap in the summer if you take good care of it by wiping off sweat, but why not try a different strap just for the summer? It would be a waste to have a great watch and not wear it because you're afraid of sweat.
Of course, the original strap is fine, but it would be interesting to try a non-original strap that is sweat-resistant just for the summer. Also, changing the strap and making your own Portuguese watch would be a fun experience.
When choosing a leather strap, please refer to the following article.
summary
Here's a quick rundown of the IWC:
- Although it is a Swiss brand, it is a simple and sturdy brand that reflects German craftsmanship.
- Strict in-house standards and a lifetime warranty ensure high precision and long-lasting value
- There are many popular second-hand models available
As such, IWC watches are highly valued and can be purchased at high prices even if they are second-hand.
If you want to sell your IWC for a high price in Tokyo, be sure to come to Commit Ginza!
- "I want to sell my unused IWC for as much as possible."
- "I want a thorough assessment."
- "I want to buy from a store with a good track record."
If you have these requirements, Commit Ginza is perfect for you !
Commit Ginza is a watch store that operates on the concept of "buy high, sell low" in the used watch market, where prices are said to be difficult to understand.
Our experienced watch appraisers assess the watches to determine the market value and set the appropriate price. We also strive to maximize the profit margins of our stores and improve customer satisfaction.
As a result, the commission rate for deposit sales is only 3% (industry average is 10%).