IWC Schaffhausen
Richemont · Switzerland
IWC Schaffhausen is a Swiss watch manufacturer founded in 1868 by American watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones and owned by Richemont since 2000. Known for its Pilot's Watches, Portugieser and Ingenieur collections, it is the only major Swiss watch brand based in northeastern Switzerland.
| Founded | 1868, Schaffhausen |
|---|---|
| Founder | Florentine Ariosto Jones |
| Owner | Richemont (since 2000) |
| Headquarters | Schaffhausen, Switzerland |
| CEO | Christoph Grainger-Herr (since 2017) |
| Stores | 238 (Richemont) |
| Website | iwc.com |
What is IWC Schaffhausen?
IWC Schaffhausen, short for International Watch Company, is a luxury watchmaker headquartered in Schaffhausen on the Rhine. It belongs to Richemont's Specialist Watchmakers alongside brands such as Jaeger-LeCoultre, Vacheron Constantin and A. Lange & Söhne. Richemont describes IWC as having a clear focus on technology and development. Christoph Grainger-Herr has been chief executive since 2017.
History
American watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones founded the company in 1868, aiming to combine Swiss craftsmanship with American industrial production methods. He chose Schaffhausen for its hydropower and skilled labour, far from the traditional watchmaking regions in western Switzerland. IWC has kept detailed production records for each watch since 1885.
IWC was acquired by Richemont in 2000 as part of the LMH group, together with Jaeger-LeCoultre and A. Lange & Söhne, for CHF 2.8 billion. In 2018 IWC opened its Manufakturzentrum in Schaffhausen, bringing movement and case production under one roof.
Products and positioning
- Pilot's Watches, including the Big Pilot's Watch
- Portugieser, including the Eternal Calendar recognised by Guinness World Records in 2024 for its moon phase precision
- Ingenieur sports watches
- Portofino dress watches
- In-house movements such as the 52000 calibre family, introduced in 2015
Business model and distribution
IWC sells through its own boutiques, which Richemont puts at 238 stores, through authorised retailers and through its own e-commerce. Its service department repairs watches from every period of the company's history.
IWC Schaffhausen and technology
IWC emphasises materials engineering. In 2017 it introduced Ceratanium, a titanium-based material with a ceramic-like surface, and it has since developed technologies such as Ceralume luminescent ceramic. The online Collectors Forum dates back to 2001. At Watches and Wonders Geneva 2026 IWC presented a new perpetual calendar system, and Richemont highlights a Pilot's watch qualified for spaceflight with the space station company Vast.
Why it matters
IWC is one of Richemont's key watch brands and a notable example of a watchmaker built from the start around engineering and industrial methods rather than artisanal tradition alone.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns IWC Schaffhausen?
IWC Schaffhausen has been owned by the Swiss luxury group Richemont since 2000, when Richemont bought the LMH group that also included Jaeger-LeCoultre and A. Lange & Söhne. It is part of Richemont's Specialist Watchmakers.
What does IWC stand for?
IWC stands for International Watch Company. The name reflects the company's founding in 1868 by an American watchmaker, Florentine Ariosto Jones, who set up production in Schaffhausen.