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— | iwc [03.07.2022 15:34] (current) – created - external edit 127.0.0.1 | ||
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+ | ====== IWC ====== | ||
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+ | **IWC** (**International Watch Co. Schaffhausen**) is a Swiss watch manufacturer established in [[1868]] and currently one of the Specialist Watchmakers of [[Richemont]]. | ||
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+ | Distinctive originals of horology, that is the undisputed specialty of the watch [[manufacture]] IWC Schaffhausen The famous [[IWC Da Vinci|Da Vinci]] with [[perpetual calendar|perpetual calendar]] for example, as well as the [[Grande Complication]], | ||
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+ | ===== Company founded by an American ===== | ||
+ | It was no coincidence that an American engineer from Boston, [[Jones, Florentine Ariosto|Florentine Ariosto Jones]], founded the " | ||
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+ | ===== After two bankruptcies back on the road of success ===== | ||
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+ | Jones failed, partly because of the high U.S. import duties, with his attempt to export the watches produced in bis company to his home country. Also the subsequent owner, the Schaffhauser Handelsbank, | ||
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+ | [[1874]] the IWC was converted into a stock company. After two bankruptcies IWC [[1880]] was taken over by the Schaffhausen industrialist of agricultural machinery Johannes Rauschenbach. The new employee Urs Haenggi, who entered into the company in [[1883]], proved as an important pillar by establishing valuable contacts on business trips. Another employee, Johann Vogel, who was responsible for the technical direction, ensured the smooth running of the watch production, which was now steadily rising. It was he who introduced a new numbering system for the IWC calibres. | ||
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+ | In [[1889]], the factory had 104 employees, and in the year [[1901]], it were already 190. | ||
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+ | At the death of Rauschenbach' | ||
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+ | During the 2nd World War, on 1 April [[1944]], the IWC factory site escaped closely its total destruction. A bomb thrown by an American pilot hit exactly the adjacent building and set it on fire. | ||
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+ | In [[1952]] Ernst Homberger was awarded an honorary doctorate of the University of St. Gallen for his outstanding merits. He died in [[1955]] at the age of 85 years. | ||
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+ | ===== From H. E. Homberger AG to Mannesmann ===== | ||
+ | Hans Ernst Homberger, son of Ernst Homberger-Rauschenbach, | ||
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+ | ===== The era Günter Blümlein ===== | ||
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+ | During the severe turbulences in the Swiss watch industry at the end of the seventies, in Schaffhausen the gifted patron [[Günter Blümlein]] paved the way - against the Zeitgeist of the electronic age - in favour of mechanics, of innovation and of the technically demanding men's watch. Out of this self-understanding the winking message has been developed //"IWC - since [[1868]]. And as long as there are still men."// | ||
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+ | The [[IWC Ingenieur|Ingenieur]] (Engineer), first published in [[1955]] and redesigned by the famous watch designer [[Genta, Gérald Charles|Gérald Genta]], becomes a classic. Other well-known models are the [[IWC Pilot' | ||
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+ | IWC presented a novel and ultimately successful challenge to the quartz revolution beginning in [[1985]] with the launch of the [[IWC Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar|Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar]]. Only mechanical watchmaking expertise could produce such complex watches, and this model featured a sophisticated and patented [[chronograph]] with [[perpetual calendar]] and [[moon phase]] indication developed by [[Kurt Klaus]]. The company created a [[IWC Grande Complication|Grande Complication]] to cement its technical credibility, | ||
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+ | In [[1991]] the IWC Director [[Günter Blümlein]] establishes the [[LMH]] group based in Schaffhausen. It holds 100% interest in the IWC, 60% of the traditional [[manufacture]] [[Jaeger-LeCoultre]] and 90% interest in the revived Saxon watch manufacturer [[A. Lange & Söhne]], and it employs a workforce of approximately 1,440. | ||
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+ | ===== Growth in the Modern Era ===== | ||
+ | In the year [[2000]], the sale of Mannesmann to the British company Vodafone takes place, followed by the takeover of the Mannesmann watches group LMH by the South African [[Richemont|Richemont Group]] (Rupert Family) at a price of 2.8 billion francs (( see report of 21 July 2000 in www.news.ch: | ||
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+ | [[Richemont Group]] placed dynamic young executive [[Kern, Georges|Georges Kern]] in charge of IWC in [[2002]], tasked to develop the newly-acquired brand beyond the technical watch market. Kern succeeded in focusing the brand and expanding it in the market. In 15 years, Kern increased sales for IWC ten times over, and was highly respected for his energy and vision. | ||
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+ | By [[2011]], Kern was named Head of Watchmaking for [[Richemont]] and also named manager of [[Roger Dubuis]] and [[Baume & Mercier]]. Kern moved to [[Breitling]] when it was acquired from the Schneider family by CVC Partners in March [[2017]]. He was replaced at IWC by [[Grainger-Herr, | ||
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+ | ===== Technical innovations ===== | ||
+ | *See Also [[IWC calibres]] | ||
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+ | Originals of horology emerged soon after the founding of the company, such as the Pallweber [[pocket watch]] with digital display of hours and minutes in [[1885]], which is now a coveted collector' | ||
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+ | IWC was there when the watches learned flying with the pioneers of aviation - and now has an extensive range of professional [[pilot' | ||
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+ | ===== The special position of IWC ===== | ||
+ | The special position of IWC is fundamental not only in history, but also in geography. So it remains the only watch manufacturer in eastern Switzerland, | ||
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+ | The perfection of the craft, the training of its specialists, | ||
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+ | Since the company exists from IWC always originate important impulses for the mechanical watch. With about 500 employees, the [[manufacture]] produces the coveted pieces and despite a substantial annual production of about 70,000 watches it puts more emphasis on classical and high-quality watchmaking than on high quantities. (( Parts of the original article in German have been to my knowledge been created by [[http:// | ||
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+ | ===== Literature ===== | ||
+ | *Die Fliegeruhren von IWC; Authors [[Christian Pfeiffer-Belli]], | ||
+ | *[[IWC-Uhren. Die " | ||
+ | *IWC, International Watch Co. Schaffhausen, | ||
+ | *Die Grande Complication von IWC; Author Manfred Fritz von Edition Stemmle, Kilchb.; ISBN 3908162076 | ||
+ | *Armbanduhren-Spezial IWC - Geschichte, Design, Technik; Author Jörg M. Mehltretter; | ||
+ | *IWC - Die Noblen aus der Schweiz. Handbuch für den Uhrensammler; | ||
+ | *IWC, International Watch Co. Schaffhausen, | ||
+ | *Die Fliegeruhren von IWC. Deutsche Ausgabe - version IWC; Authors [[Rüdiger Bucher]], [[Christian Pfeiffer-Belli]]; | ||
+ | *[[Das ZEITGEFÜHL-Uhrenbuch]]; | ||
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+ | ===== Address ===== | ||
+ | International Watch Co.\\ Baumgartenstr. 15\\ CH-8200 Schaffhausen\\ Tel. +41 (0) 52/635 65 65 | ||
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+ | ===== Weblinks ===== | ||
+ | *[[http:// | ||
+ | *[[http:// | ||
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+ | {{tag> | ||
iwc.txt · Last modified: 03.07.2022 15:34 by 127.0.0.1