IWC Schaffhausen Offers Customised Guided Virtual Tours

In light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and social distancing guidelines, Swiss luxury watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen is now launching a new guided virtual tour for the watch enthusiasts who aren’t able to travel to its headquarters in Switzerland.

With these newly developed virtual tours, visitors will go on an interactive, personalised and memorable journey of discovery, bringing them as close as possible to our home in Schaffhausen, no matter where they may be. Not only will they gain exciting insights into our history and the complex engineering behind our timepieces, but they will also be immersed into the world of IWC in a completely new way.

Christoph Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen

An exciting new virtual experience will enable watch enthusiasts to explore IWC’s headquarters from their own homes. Via a live stream from Schaffhausen, visitors will be able to take a customised tour of the museum and manufacturing centre, as well as observe first-hand a watchmaker at work, using the Swiss company’s innovative new Cyberloupe technology.

 

Offering the same insight enjoyed on the ever-popular in-person tours, each virtual journey will be adapted to the specific interests of guests and narrated in real-time by knowledgeable guides. A highly interactive and unique experience, the tours’ ease and convenience will open up IWC’s world and its iconic timepieces to more people than ever before.

The journey begins with an introduction to the brand’s rich history before a guide welcomes guests to the manufacturing centre. Short videos with live commentary and video links to different departments place visitors at the heart of the watchmaking process. From the production of movement parts, to cases and assembly, every significant step is covered. Guides also offer a deep-dive into more specific topics like mechanical decoration or advanced case materials, if desired.

 

IWC’s patented Cyberloupe technology delivers another tour highlight. The specially developed version of a watchmaker’s magnifying glass features an integrated camera and network connection, allowing visitors to stream the watchmaker’s viewpoint in real-time to their screens. An unprecedented way to explore the inner workings of a movement or learn about complications, the Cyberloupe allows online visitors a fascinating look at IWC’s intricate work.

Exploring IWC’s manufacturing centre online using such up-to-date digital technology suits the building perfectly. Inaugurated in 2018, the factory reflects the same blend of tradition and modern production methods championed by founder Florentine Ariosto Jones in 1868. State-of-the-art machinery and meticulous handcraftsmanship are brought together under one roof. Similarly, the virtual tours rely on modern communication channels to enable visitors from anywhere in the world to discover the brand’s heritage and future at just the touch of a button.

 

The new virtual tours will be available from September 28th, via IWC.com, IWC boutiques and official retail partners. For bookings and for more information please contact visit@iwc.com. Come into the beautiful of IWC.

 

 

 

 

Schaap en Citroen opens a Vintage Watches boutique

Since 1888, Dutch jeweler Schaap en Citroen has been a popular address for prestigious watches and jewellery, from brands such as Cartier, Chopard, Jaeger LeCoultre, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Rolex, to name just a few.

Now Schaap en Citroen – with branches in Amsterdam – is expanding its number of stores with a Vintage Watches boutique in the Amsterdam 5-star Conservatorium hotel. A brand new concept for the jeweler’s house: second-hand watches are available in the boutique. Schaap en Citroen offers a realistic and competitive price for the timepiece worn. Visitors can also exchange their worn watch for a new product, for example.

Schaap en Citroen Jewelers offers a wide range of pre-owned watches from the most exclusive brands including Blancpain, Breguet, Jaeger LeCoultre, Patek Philippe, Vacharon Constantin, Cartier, Chopard, Rolex, Audemars Piguet, IWC, Omega, and Hublot. An exclusive number of this unique collection can be viewed in the new boutique in the Conservatorium Hotel. The trade-in procedure for second-hand watches can also be arranged online via the website.

Even if you are not looking for a new watch, a visit to the boutique is worthwhile. Interior designer Rob Feenstra has provided the store with a stylish interior with furniture from Fendi Casa and Bentley Home.

Vintage Watch boutique can be found in the Van Baerle Shopping Gallery at the Conservatorium hotel, which is open maardag: 13: 00 to 17: 45. Tuesday-Saturday: 11: 00 – 20: 00, and Sunday from 13.00 to 17.00 o’clock. Phone number: 020 – 2384792.

Come in the beautiful and timeless world of Schaap en Citroen.

IWC Introduces the Redesigned, And Round, Da Vinci

IWC Schaffhausen, one of the leading luxury watch brands, rewinds to the classically styled round Da Vinci of the 1980s with the latest facelift.

IWC has taken the covers off the revamped Da Vinci, which now returns to the familiar round form of the model’s best known iteration, the perpetual calendar chronograph of 1985.

Named after the Renaissance polymath, the IWC Da Vinci actually originated in the 1970s, starting with a blocky looking electronic watch powered by the Beta 21, the first Swiss-made quartz movement.

The Da Vinci Collection that was based on the 1970’s Beta 21 model.

In 1985 the second Da Vinci wristwatches were a pretty radical departure from anyting that IWC had done before. The barrel shaped lugs and stepped, round case made them extremely dressy, and the level of complexity was also something very new for IWC. The biggest talking point was the perpetual calendar mechanism; IWC’s first, and moreover, the very first perpetual calendar in which every indication could be set by the crown, with the day, date, month, and year as wel as the moonphase, all changing in sync with each other, making the Da Vinci the ancestor of all modern synchronized-mechanism perpeual calendars.

The IWC Da Vinci became the vehicle for further experiments as well; ceramic-cased models came out in 1986, and versions of the Da Vinci fitted with tourbillons were introduced as well.

 

A gold IWC Da Vinci of 1985 wath a 39mm case (ref.3750) and a gold/black ceramic version from 1986

The look evolved into arguable the quintessential Da Vinci model, the landmark chronograph with perpetual calendar that was efficiently constructed and the most affordable complication of its kind at the time.

In 2007, inspired on the first Da Vinci, the last major refresh of the Da Vinci family took place: the round case, and barrel lugs were updated with a modified toneau shape. The Da Vinci Kurt Klaus limited edition used the IWC calibre 79261.

IWC Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Digital Date Monthe from 2007

And so for 2007 the Da Vinci has been restyled once again, this time with the 1980’s watch as inspriration. Now characterised by round cases, swivelling lugs, Arabic numerals, and lance-shaped hands, the new Da Vinci line-up is a half dozen strong.

While the range is primarily focused on ladies’ watches, the top of the line models are a pair of complicated men’s timepieces. And like many of IWC’s recent watches, all the Da Vinci timepieces are paired with straps made by Italian shoemaker Santoni.

IWC Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Cronograph 

The signature watch of the new range replicates the combination of complications found in the 1985 model, but with an unique in-house movement. The Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph is powerd by the calibre 89630, the first instance where IWC’s own calibre 89000 flyback chronograph movement has been combined with a perpetual calendar module.

Both the elapsel minutes and hours for the chronograph are contained in the sub-dail at 12 0’clock – the distinguishing feature of the calbre 89000 family of movements. On the new Da Vinci it also features the moon phase display.

The other sub-dails at each quarter are for the perpetual calendar. And the four digit year display, a signature feature of IWC’s perpetual calendar module, remains at its traditional position midway between seven and eight o’clock.

The case is large, 43mm in diameter and 15.5mm high. The Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph will be availble in red gold (ref. IW392101) for SFr45,000, and stainlesss steel (ref. IW392103) for SFr32.000.

IWC Da Vinci Automatic 36

The base ladies’ model is the Da Vinci Automatic 36, a 36mm automatic with date powered by the calibre 35111, which is actually the robust and cost efficient Sellita SW300.

This is available in stainless steel or red gold, with several dial variations and the options of diamonds on the bezel, or a matching link bracelet (refs. IW458307, IW458308, IW458310 and IW458312). Prices start at SFr5900.

The Da Vinci Automatic Moon Phase 36 adds a moon phase display to the base model. It’s the same 36mm size and powered by the calibre 35800, which is a Sellita SW300 with an added moon phase at 12 o’clock.

This is available in three different variants, two in steel and the last in red gold (refs. IW459306, IW459307 and IW459308).

The new IWC Da Vinci watches feature the ‘Flower of Life’ motif on the back, a recurring theme in several of Leonardo da Vinci’s work

IWC Portuguese Hand-Wound Eight Days 75th Anniversary Edition

One of the most iconic watches ever created, the IWC (at the time International Watch Company) Portuguese was launched in 1939 with a number of dial versions.

Unveiled at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie 2015, the new IWC Portugieser Hand-Wound Eight Days 75th Anniversary Edition pays tribute to a version of the original Portugieser that until now has been fairly unknown. Fortunately, an original version of this model had remained in a private collection, and became a source of inspiration for IWC’s designers.

This historic piece features all the attributes which have defined the appearance of the Portugieser to this day: Arabic numerals, slim feuille hands, railway-track-style chapter ring and small seconds at 6 o’clock. However, the inner chapter ring, hour indices and Arabic numerals are aesthetically very prominent in gold brown with black edging.

IWC’s in-house 59215-calibre movement – beating at a frequency of 4 hertz, or 28,800 vibrations per hour – supplies the watch with energy for 8 days. Actually, it would be almost 9 days, were it not for an system that blocks the movement after the first 192 hours, or precisely 8 days. Through the transparent sapphire-glass back, it is possible to verify the remaining power reserve.

The red gold version with silver-plated dial has adopted the colour scheme and company logo of its forebear almost without change except for the new date display on the subdial at 6 o’clock. The stainless steel version of the Portuguese 75th Anniversary Edition features a matte black dial in contrast with light green elements.

The coved bezel, a typical design characteristic of the Portugieser line, and the arched-edge sapphire glass help to make the case appear less bulky despite its 12-millimetre height and 43-millimetre diameter.

The luxurious alligator leather straps, handcrafted by the Italian shoe manufacturer Santoni, are true masterpieces of craftsmanship and uniqueness, thanks to the nuanced shade of the leather, which makes each strap unique in its special patina-like shine with individual color tones.

The Portugieser Hand-Wound Eight Days 75th Anniversary Edition will be available in a limited edition of 175 watches in red gold (ref. IW510206) while the stainless-steel version (ref. IW510205) is limited to 750 watches.

The IWC Portuguese Hand-Wound Eight Days 75th Anniversary Edition is available at selected stores worldwide. Come into the beautiful world of IWC.