IWC still emphasizes the values that were part of his vision from the outset: making solid, reliable, highly precise, robust watches that have both the dignity of well-made and functionally irreproachable machines, as well as being shaped by the irreplaceable work of skilled craftspeople. It’s in this combination of functional integrity, and restrained elegance in execution, that the vision of Florentine Ariosto Jones is alive today at IWC.
To celebrate the 150 years since its founding in 1868, IWC has put together the 150th Anniversary Jubilee Collection: 27 watches encompassing all of the brand’s bestselling model lines. The collection spans a diversity of watches, with the base models starting at $5000, but also includes the digital Pallweber pocket watch. In all, there are 27 watches in the Jubilee collection, and they all follow a set of design codes that hold the otherwise extremely diverse collection together.
Let's look at the models below with their details:
Big Pilot’s Watch Big Date Edition
It wouldn’t be a celebration of IWC without the latest version of the wildly popular Big Pilot’s timepieces. Three limited edition Pilot’s Watches made the show this year and
a favourite of ours was the Date Edition.
This particular piece comes in two variations which feature characteristic dials produced
using a complex lacquering process in white or blue.
The Big Pilot’s Watch Big Date Edition “150 Years” (Ref. 5105) is the first Big Pilot’s Watch from
IWC to wear a date display featuring large numerals beneath the triangular index at
the 12 o’clock mark.
Movement is catered to by the IWC-manufactured calibre 59235, a mechanism derived from
the hand-wound calibre 59210 with a date function added in by the watch designers.
An extensive 8 day power reserve is afforded by this movement with the power reserve display moved to the caseback in order to preserve the uncluttered style of the dial that is signature
to Pilot’s Watches.
IWC Tribute to Pallweber Edition
Arguably one of IWC’s most innovative showings to date, this timepiece incorporates a digital hours and minutes display in a wristwatch for the very first time. Tradition wasn’t lost through
innovation though as IWC utilised this form of time/date display on their pocket
watches way back in 1884.
Today the forgotten dial design has been revived for the brand’s anniversary alongside an equally pioneering movement. The IWC-manufactured 94200 calibre features cutting edge engineering
that merges intricate mechanics with a sophisticated digital display complete with a
high 60-hour power reserve.
Portugieser Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Edition
The Portugieser Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Edition “150 Years” brings a perpetual calendar together with a tourbillon on the dial for the first time ever in the watchmaker’s history.
In total there are five new limited-edition Portugieser watches this year and it’s a clear sign
that IWC is keen to highlight its Haute Horlogerie expertise during this important
anniversary year.
As such, all timepieces feature the design of the Jubilee collection which is the aforementioned dial characteristics produced using a complex lacquering process in white or blue.
On the Portugieser Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Edition “150 Years” we have an 18-carat red gold case paired with a white dial with lacquered finish and blued hands. A newly developed IWC- manufactured 51950 calibre is utilised here as an extension of the 51900 calibre which
sees the addition of a perpetual calendar.
Portofino Hand-Wound Moon Phase Edition
With small seconds at “6 o’clock” is the first watch to feature the new IWC-manufactured 82200 calibre. With the Da Vinci Automatic Moon Phase 36 Edition “150 Years”, IWC is taking up the
tradition of jewellery watches from the 1990s. The case and moving lugs of these models
are paved with 206 pure white diamonds amounting to 2.26 carats.
combines a classic Portofino Hand-Wound Eight Days with a moon phase display thanks
to the IWC-manufactured 59800 calibre
Da Vinci Automatic Edition
With small seconds at "6 o’clock" is the first watch to feature the new IWC-manufactured 82200 calibre. With the Da Vinci Automatic Moon Phase 36 Edition “150 Years”, IWC is taking up the
tradition of jewellery watches from the 1990s. The case and moving lugs of these models
are paved with 206 pure white diamonds amounting to 2.26 carats.
In the jubilee collection, the watches with white dials are fitted with blue hands while those with blue dials have rhodium-plated hands. The cornflower blue colour of the steel hands is the result of a special heat treatment at 300 degrees Celsius.
The gleam of the rhodium-plated hands on the watches with blue dials comes from up to four electroplated coatings. “The combination of dial, printing and hands is immediately recognizable and will continue to give owners enormous pleasure when they think back to IWC's 150th jubilee many years from now,” concludes de Nantes with some confidence.