IWC Jubilee Collection – Happy 150th Birthday!

IWC Schaffhausen turned 150, and we went to its birthday.

It was during the annual SIHH (Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie) in Geneva, visited by about 20’000 guests in 5 days. The audience was enthusiastic and the IWC booth was the centre of activities, always bubbling with people, presentations, touch and feel sections, and of course music and refreshments. The star-studded Gala was a highlight.

In the booth, the brand unveiled its new Jubilee Collection: 27 different models “Edition 150 years” featuring especially created Portugieser, Portofino, Da Vinci, Pilot, and Tribute to Pallweber models. The combination of tradition and innovation make the collection a pleasure for the eyes, but also for anybody interested in the technical aspects of the great IWC haute horlogerie heritage.

Collectors, clients, press, stars and influencers from allover the world met the IWC crew (I wondered if they ever slept? I think I saw them smiling and working from early morning to late night) and gave me the impression, once more, of being a big family. Everybody seemed to know everybody, and also to greatly enjoy the Royal treatment – the IWC hosts made us all feel welcome and pampered.

The most beloved part, though, was trying the watches on. For Geri and I, the process involved photographing them too. This time we had the help of a Getty photographer, so we could really enjoy trying our Da Vinci special editions on.

The Da Vinci Automatic Moon Phase 36 Edition 150 Years and the Da Vinci Automatic Edition 150 Years are perhaps the most suitable watches for fashionistas like us: classic and feminine, their beauty will last for at least another 150 years.

The Jubilee Collection is made of 27 pieces (did you know that F.A. Jones was 27 years old, when he founded the company?), to which a 28th model was added, the Rose Gold Pallweber Pocket Watch.

I also dreamed of buying a Portugieser Constant-Force Tourbillon Edition 150 Years – I think it would suit my husband quite well. It brings together a perpetual calendar with a tourbillon on the dial for the first time ever. The moon phase display needs to be adjusted by only one day every 577.7 years! Again, a mix of beautiful looks and top notch technique.

In the gallery below, some impressions of the booth and its beautiful decor. Happy Birthday IWC and thank you for the fantastic event. (All Jubilee Collection can be found here)