International Watch Company (IWC)
Brand story
The American engineer Aristo Jones began to Schaffhausen, Switzerland, in 1868, marking the
beginning of IWC’s prosperous history.
With the use of a technology that his business partner Johann Heinrich Moser created, they were
able to begin the production of mechanized watches using the hydropower of the Rhine. 10,000
watches for the American market may be produced by the Schaffhauser manufacture a year later.
IWC was compelled to hunt for alternative sales markets due to the rise in import taxes to the US.
IWC started a jewelry and watch company, particularly in Germany.
Getting There
You have a few alternatives for how to get to the IWC Museum. If you wish to drive,
there is plenty of parking nearby and public transportation is very convenient.
Public Transportation
There are numerous train connections from Zurich to Schaffhausen, and the journey takes
40 to 60 minutes. Take bus 6 or bus 8 to the “Rhybadi/IWC” stop or to Bachstrasse from
Schaffhausen train station. You can also choose to walk rather than take the bus because
it takes just 9 minutes to go from the railway station to IWC.
By Car
If you wish to go by car, it is only 40 minutes’ drive from Zurich to IWC. And, 1hour 30 minutes
from Basel, 1 hour 20 from Lucerne, 2 hours from Bern and a more lengthy 4 hours from
Geneva.
Inside The IWC Museum
IWC Museum
Inside the IWC factory, in the attic spaces where the company’s employees once produced
the watches, is where the museum is located. On IWC’s 125th anniversary, in 1993, it was
officially opened.
The IWC Museum features more than 230 items, starting with the initial pocket watches
with Jones calibers, continuing with the first digital pocket watch, and ending with the first
IWC watches themselves.
IWC offers a wide selection of timepieces, including antimagnetic, divers, pilots, and
women dress watches. The II Destriero Scafusia, one of IWC’s most intricate wristwatches,
is the most striking. IWC has made sure that all of its most distinguished calibers and clocks
are on exhibit.
The museum is merely 2 rooms in size overall, therefore you will only need an hour to see
everything. It is an IWC-specific museum and does not elaborate on other brands or
subjects unrelated to IWC.