IWC Schaffhausen

Founded in 1868 by American watchmaker and engineer Florentine Ariosto Jones in Schaffhausen, northern Switzerland, the International Watch Company (IWC) was founded with the pioneering vision of combining American hydromechanical manufacturing technology with Swiss watchmaking craftsmanship along the banks of the Rhine River.

IWC’s distinct hallmark is its historical specialization in aviation watches (Pilot's Watches) and magnetic field-resistant timepieces. In 1936, they launched their first pilot’s watch, and in 1948 they created the legendary Mark XI for the British Royal Air Force, fitted with a soft iron inner cage to protect the movement from electromagnetic interference from flight instruments.

Additionally, IWC was an industrial pioneer in the use of advanced materials for watchmaking: in 1980, they produced the world’s first titanium-cased chronograph, and in 1986 they introduced zirconium oxide ceramic, solidifying the Top Gun collection and the development of cases highly resistant to corrosion and scratching.