IWC Schaffhausen

IWC Schaffhausen is a Swiss watch company with a long connection to aviation. Its Pilot's Watches were developed from the idea of making time instruments for aviators and navigators. The collection includes the Big Pilot's Watch, the Mark series, Spitfire models and Pilot's Watch Chronographs. The company also makes other watch families, including the Portugieser, Ingenieur, Aquatimer and Portofino.

A History Connected to Flying

IWC began in 1868 when American watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones established the International Watch Co. in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. He brought together American manufacturing methods and Swiss watchmaking skills.

The company's aviation watch history goes back more than 85 years. Its first Special Pilot's Watch, also known as the Spezialuhr für Flieger, began a line of watches designed with pilots in mind.

Another important model was the Pilot's Watch Mark 11, which used the IWC 89 calibre movement. The later Mark XII continued that design tradition.

These watches reflect the company's focus on instruments that people can wear and use, rather than watches made only for appearance.

The Big Pilot's Watch

The Big Pilot's Watch is one of the main models in IWC's aviation range.

One version introduced at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva featured a movement with a seven-day power reserve, automatic winding, a power reserve display and a date display.

IWC later introduced a 43 mm Big Pilot's Watch using its manufactured calibre 82. This model has an open case back.

The current named range includes the Big Pilot's Watch 43 Spitfire, the Big Pilot's Watch Edition Le Petit Prince and TOP GUN versions such as Mojave Desert.

The Big Pilot's Watch family also includes perpetual calendar models.

Chronographs and Aviation Collections

IWC offers several Pilot's Watch Chronographs, including the Chronograph 41 and Performance Chronograph 41.

The catalog includes TOP GUN editions named Woodland and Lake Tahoe. It also includes watches connected with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team and George Russell.

The Spitfire collection is another part of IWC's aviation watch range.

These different models give watch enthusiasts several choices within the same wider Pilot's Watch family.

Watchmaking Beyond Aviation

IWC also produces the Ingenieur, Portugieser, Aquatimer and Portofino families.

In 1976, the company introduced the Ingenieur SL, Reference 1832, designed by Gérald Genta. IWC has also marked the design's 50th anniversary with two limited editions of the Ingenieur Automatic.

Its wider watchmaking history includes the Jones calibre, Pallweber pocket watches and movements developed for wristwatches.

For pilots and aviation fans, IWC's appeal comes from its connection to navigation instruments and decades of Pilot's Watch development. The watches combine that aviation background with the company's broader history of mechanical watchmaking.