Iwc watches
A combination of the colossal and the well-ordered - this is how Goethe described Switzerland. A country of tidy, precise towns nestled amid the lofty splendor of mountains and ski-slopes; a region where there is every assurance that your trains and letters will be on time. So natural then that Switzerland is famous for watches, reflecting the timeliness of its people. Every Swiss watchmaker is a leading example of precision and perfection in workmanship.
The quest for perfection in horology has given the world a number of watch companies, each producing a wonderful array of timepieces. The International Watch Company (IWC) is unparalleled in the history of watch making. The very first steps in the establishment of the IWC were taken in Schaffhausen, in north-east Switzerland, by an American engineer from Boston, Florentine Ariosto Jones, in 1868. Inspiration for this unique venture, located on the river Rhine, was based on Jones' passion to develop perfect mechanical movements, on the existence of a hydroelectric power station to supply energy to run his machines, and most importantly, on the fact that he could hire the services of the watchmakers of Schaffhausen, the highest degree of skill and dedication. In fact the traditional art of the Schaffhausen watchmaker dates as far back as 1409, when the striking clock of St. Johann's Church was built in Rheinau by a monk skilled in the art of watch making. A later corroboration of such skill exists in the State Archives in Schaffhausen, recording an entry on 29 January 1583, with a mention of Watchmakers being a part of a Guild of Professionals. Thus in 1868, the little town of Schaffhausen was put on the "Industrial Age" map marking the birth of The International Watch Co.
At the time, wages were very low in Switzerland and though there was a ready supply of skilled labor, it was in the form of manual work done by people working from their homes. A strong resistance on the part of these people was expected, because they felt threatened in their jobs and in the work they did at home. This was an initial hiccup which Jones succeeded in overcoming. Thereafter he set about achieving the objective of combining the excellence of the American system of mechanism with the skillful labor of the Swiss to build watches which he would then supply to the Americans.
The efforts of F.A.Jones brought rewards. The first factory premises in Rheinstrasse was soon inadequate for the volume of operations and additional space was rented in Oberhaus. In 1874 a new factory,"Baumgarten", was being planned on the banks of the Rhine. By 1875, this 45 meter long factory was ready to go full steam ahead with 196 workers and 300 work places.
The year 1880 and onwards saw some major changes in the ownership and name of the IWC, all the time, however scaling newer heights in its success story. 1880 began the Rauschenbach era with Johann Rauschenbach Vogel who renamed the company Internationale Uhrenfabrik. On his death the very next year, he was succeeded by his 25 year old son, Johannes Rauschenbach Schenk. Schenk was the head of a flourishing Uhrenfabrik Von J. Rauschenbach, till his death in March, 1905.
During this golden era, a significant individual player contributing towards the companys achievements was Urs Haenggi from Nunningen. He joined the company in 1883, and for the next 52 years dedicated himself to increasing business, extending clientele, and protecting the interests of the Rauschenbachs. Haenggi's sincerity and honest efforts were complemented by those of technician, Johann Vogel from Wangen, in the important capacity of technical director. His forte was the design and development of IWC calibers till 1919.
MILESTONES IN HISTORY:
There were significant milestones that augmented the success of this watch company. The first IWC digital watch was made in 1885 with the help of an Austrian named Pallweber. In 1888, the first power line supplying electricity was installed in the factory by J. Rauschenbach. The power was used initially for factory lighting and gold plating of watch movement parts, but subsequently, towards the end of the 19th century all machinery operations were converted to electricity. The energy was transmitted with the help of an electric motor to the work areas through a series of shafts and drive belts. This was a cumbersome and noisy system and high on consumption and maintenance. By 1930, each machine was running smoothly, powered by its own motor.
At the turn of the century, the IWC recorded very high sales figures in Germany, Austria and Russia. This impressive situation was due to excellent management skills coupled with the discipline and reliability of the employees.
PRE AND POST WAR:
In 1905, J Rauschenbach-Shenk died and the IWC passed into the hands of Shenk's wife, two daughters and their husbands, Ernst Jakob Homberger and Dr.Carl Gustav Jung. The company was called Uhrenfabrik von J. Rauschenbach's Erben and functioned as an open trading company. The one and only authorized signatory was E.J.Homberger and the directors were the trusted Haenggi and Vogel.
In the following years of the First World War and the ensuing economic crisis, Ernst J. Homberger was at the helm of the company's affairs as the sole owner. With his acumen he managed to steer the company through one of its most difficult periods and now called it Uhrenfabrik von Ernst Homberger-Rauschenbach.
Then came the second World war. The economic crisis in the wake of the Second World War made it impossible for business to continue as earlier. The European Market was in ruins and focus was now on the revival of old contacts and the establishment of new ones in the rest of Europe, the Americas, Australia and the Far East. This change in direction brought fertile economic returns to the IWC in Schaffhausen and to the Swiss watch industry as well.
SURGING AHEAD:
In 1970s and 1980s, during the tenure of H. E. Homberger, the Swiss watch industry was greatly influenced by the global technological revolution. The invention and use of miniature electric batteries and the transistor eventually gave way to a watch technology that was a combination of the precision of mechanics and electronics. Technological progress also led to several expensive and misguided technologies, which IWC had the foresight to steer clear off.
The Uhrenfabrik H.E. Homberger, as the company was now called, was involved in something new -the Beta 21 quartz wristwatch movement, and presented it to the public for the first time in 1969, at the Industrial Fair in Basel. Sale of Quartz watches soared. Ladies watches with mechanical movements were added to a newer and larger collection of jewellery watches and 1973 turned out the most successful post war period!
The high of 1973 was short-lived. In 1974 ground reality presented a grave picture to the watch industry. Culminating gold prices and the simultaneous plummeting dollar against the Swiss Franc reflected in high watch export prices. Japan made hay by flooding the market with cheap quartz watches. It was now imperative to change policy in order to better the lot of IWC. While protecting the traditions of watch making, IWC introduced an exclusive range of top-quality pocket watches. External designer, Ferdinand A. Porsche was brought into the picture. Then in 1978, the first IWC compass watch was brought out and for the first time titanium was used in watches.
In 1993 the 300 employees of IWC celebrated the company's 125th anniversary.1000 stainless steel Portuguese watches with the 982 caliber pocket watch movement, 500 in gold and 250 in platinum were made to mark the occasion.
IWC currently holds its largest market shares in the Far East, Switzerland and Germany. Worldwide, the company has around 700 sales outlets.
A trip to Switzerland should surely take you to the banks of the Rhine for that first glimpse of the mighty IWC factory. The main factory building is still identical with the one originally built in 1875. And while you are taking in the reality of IWC on the Rhine, remind yourself to get those spare parts that you require, because this is the right place to buy them, with prior authorization for entry of course.
And if chronometry or strapping time to your wrist is all important to you, then "Watch International" is for you to delve into - four issues a year published by IWC containing 68 vibrant pages per issue of the A to Z of watches to keep you abreast of the IWC world.
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