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IWC

Swiss

One of Switzerland’s major luxury watch companies was started by an American who saw the potential of bringing Switzerland’s superb watchmaking into the modern age through industrialized manufacturing and high-precision interchangeable parts. The New Hampshire–born watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones (1841–1916), who founded International Watch Company — known today as simply IWC — in 1868, was interested in “combining all the excellence of the American system of mechanism with the more skillful hand labor of the Swiss.”

Setting up the company with another American watchmaker, Charles Kidder, in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, Jones used hydropower from the River Rhine for his plant’s machinery. Rethinking watch design would lead to one of IWC’s early successes: the Pallweber pocket watch. Based on an 1883 patent by Austrian watchmaker Josef Pallweber, the watch employed numbered disks for jumping hour and minute displays, making it a pioneer in digital timekeeping.

After Johann Rauschenbach-Vogel took over the watch manufacturer in 1880, four generations of his family led IWC into the 20th century. In 1905, Ernst Jakob Homberger and his brother-in-law Carl Jung — the famed Swiss psychiatrist — acquired IWC. Homberger bought out Jung’s holdings in 1929, and in the 1930s, the company introduced pilot watches, which were particularly robust and aimed solely at the civil aviation industry. These durable wristwatches were designed specifically to remain operational during extreme temperature shifts. (As blue watch dials are particularly hot right now, IWC's blue-dial Big Pilot is having a moment.)

The company still operates alongside the river where it was founded, having gained an international reputation over the past 150 years for its elegant designs and expert craftsmanship. Vintage IWC watches are prized by collectors — of whom there are many these days — and while the company continues to guard its attention to detail and quality, it has pushed its classic designs forward with modern innovation intended to stand the test of time.

IWC’s 2013 Ingenieur watch collection, with its precision based on an inventive constant-force mechanism, looked back to a 1955 Ingenieur model that featured a durable soft-iron inner cage as well as a 1976 update by leading Swiss watch designer Gérald Genta that encased its mechanism in a sleek steel case. IWC has also had a recent push toward sustainability, designing watches that are made to last a lifetime and beyond and earning the highest environmental ranking of any Swiss watch company in a 2018 report published by the World Wide Fund for Nature Switzerland (WWF).

Find vintage IWC wristwatches, Art Deco–style pocket watches and more on 1stDibs.

Average Sold Price
$4,849
Styles
Related Creators
Iconic Designs from IWC
Explore timeless pieces that have earned their place in history.
Iwc Ingenieur Watch
Iwc Ingenieur Watch
Iwc Portugieser Watch
Iwc Portugieser Watch
Iwc Portofino Watch
Iwc Portofino Watch
Vintage IWC 18k Gold Diamond & Onyx Cushion Case Automatic Watch 36mm - 3278
By IWC
Located in Orlando, FL
Vintage IWC 18k Yellow Gold Watch with Onyx Inlay & Diamond Bezel – 36mm A striking and uncommon design from International Watch Co. (IWC), this vintage men’s dress watch features a...
Category

1970s Swiss Vintage IWC

Materials

Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

1957 IWC Vintage Mens Cal. 89 Dress Watch - Platinum
By IWC
Located in Suwanee, GA
NAMED ONE OF WATCHPRO MAGAZINE’S “HOT 100” - THE TOP 100 INFLUENCERS OF THE U.S. WATCH INDUSTRY. HOW CAN WE SERVE YOU? We’re new to offering our carefully curated collection on 1stDibs, but we have sold over 10,000 fine watches and exceptionally served thousands of customers with a 5.0 star rating on other online sites. 1957 IWC Vintage Mens Cal. 89 Dress Watch - Platinum Gorgeous Restored Condition - Iconic Movement - 1 Year Warranty Today we are proud to offer this rare IWC made for the Japanese market encased in platinum and powered by the superior caliber 89 IWC. While the vast majority of these were made in stainless steel with some also being made in 18K gold and a few gold plated cases, only very few were made in platinum. Powered by one of the most highly-regarded manually wound movements ever made, talked about in the same sentence as Pateks, the watch is rich in technical details. For those unfamiliar, the caliber 89 movement was designed by IWC's renowned technical director Albert Pellaton. It is encased in the watch's original contract case made for IWC for the Japanese market by Isomura and correctly stamped on the inside. The case has a balanced design with semi claw lugs. We have developed quite a bit of expertise in these rare platinum Isomura IWCs, having owned well over a dozen. This is the earliest one we have even seen, and the first that is only engraved with the Isomura case number, likely due to how early it is. It has all of its original parts and has just finished a true expertly done restoration. It presents in gorgeous condition. Its very rare platinum case presents as mint. It is beautifully engraved on the back with a Japanese flower done at the time of the original sale or in vintage times. Its matte black dial has been meticulously restored - its printing could pass as IWC factory done to the naked eye. A Master Watchmaker has freshly overhauled its movement. It is running extremely strong and true, keeping time on par with a brand new IWC in our testing recording position. For the finishing touch, we have equipped it with a brand new leather strap and aftermarket IWC style buckle making it ready for immediate enjoyment. Included with the purchase is a one-year warranty on the movement and its function, a custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity, and a new timing certificate. You won't be disappointed - a very rare more than six decade old IWC that presents essentially like new on the wrist! Your watch is important to us, and we will take care of it for its lifetime. We provide the best after sale care in the business with an extremely experienced team of four Master Watchmakers all of whom each have over thirty-five years of experience and a large number of parts. One used to be the watchmaker for an authorized Rolex dealership and was given special training by Rolex at their Beverly Hills Service Center. He also has done authorized watchmaking work for the Richemont Group's Service Center, IWC Schaffhausen, and many others. Detailed Appraisal: Manufacturer: IWC City of origin: Schaffhausen, Switzerland Serial no.: 1,426,514 Year built: 1957 Case no.: 136,680 Functions: Hours, Minutes, Automatic, Sweep Seconds Designed for: Men  Dimensions: slightly over 33mm wide (without crown), 42.5mm lugs tip-to-tip Case condition: Presents as mint Case markings (outside): Isomura for IWC case number, engraved with Japanese flower Dial: Matte black, signed International Watch Co. Schaffhausen, faceted baton indexes, outer minute track, expertly refinished Hands: Original, "dauphines" Jewels: 21 rubies Band: It has been equipped it with a brand new leather strap and aftermarket IWC style buckle making it ready for immediate enjoyment. Crystal type: Acrylic, excellent condition Movement: IWC caliber 89...
Category

1950s Swiss Vintage IWC

Materials

Platinum

IWC Mark XVIII Le Petit Prince 40mm Blue Dial SS Watch IW327016 w/ Box & Papers
By IWC
Located in New York, NY
This pre-owned IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Edition “Le Petit Prince” (Ref. IW327016) is a tribute to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s literary classic. Featuring a striking s...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary IWC

Materials

Steel, Stainless Steel

1958 IWC Vintage Mens Handwound Watch, Caliber 89 - Stainless Steel
By IWC
Located in Suwanee, GA
NAMED ONE OF WATCHPRO MAGAZINE’S “HOT 100” - THE TOP 100 INFLUENCERS OF THE U.S. WATCH INDUSTRY. HOW CAN WE SERVE YOU? We’re new to offering our carefully curated collection on 1stDibs, but we have sold over 10,000 fine watches and exceptionally served thousands of customers with a 5.0 star rating on other online sites. 1958 IWC Vintage Mens Handwound Watch, Caliber 89 - Stainless Steel Gorgeous Restored Condition - Iconic Movement - 1 Year Warranty Today offering showcases this very classic IWC with superior caliber 89 engine. It is full size, measuring 35.3mm in diameter. Powered by one of the most highly-regarded manually wound movements ever made, talked about in the same sentence as Pateks, the watch is rich in technical details. For those unfamiliar, the caliber 89 movement was designed by IWC's renowned technical director Albert Pellaton. All its parts are original. It has just finished a true expertly done restoration and presents in gorgeous condition. Its case presents as just short of mint with light aging visible on the underside of the lugs and heaving aging hidden inside the engine bay as is common with these. On the wrist it presents as beautiful mint. Its royal blue dial has been expertly restored - the printing could pass as IWC factory done to the naked eye. Despite what the photos seem to suggest, it is a true deep and rich royal blue color. Its movement, which is very clean, has been freshly fully overhauled by a Master Watchmaker. Photos of the inside available upon request. It is running strong and true, keeping time on par with a brand new IWC in our testing recording position. For the finishing touch, we have equipped it with a new leather strap and aftermarket IWC style buckle making it ready for immediate enjoyment. Included with the purchase is a one-year C.O.T. warranty on the movement and its function, a custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity, and a new timing certificate. A nearly six and a half decade old IWC that looks new on the wrist! Your watch is important to us, and we will take care of it for its lifetime. We provide the best after sale care in the business with an extremely experienced team of four Master Watchmakers all of whom each have over thirty-five years of experience and a large number of parts. One used to be the watchmaker for an authorized Rolex dealership and was given special training by Rolex at their Beverly Hills Service Center. He also has done authorized watchmaking work for the Richemont Group's Service Center, owner of Cartier, IWC Schaffhausen, and many others. Detailed Appraisal: Manufacturer: IWC City of origin: Schaffhausen, Switzerland Serial no.: 1,463,599 Case no.: 1,487,088 Year built: 1958 Case material: Stainless Steel Functions: Hours, Minutes, Sweep Seconds Designed for: Men  Case condition: Presents as just short of mint with light aging visible on the underside of the lugs and heaving aging hidden inside the engine bay as is common with these. On the wrist, it presents as beautiful mint. Dial: Royal blue, Signed International Watch Co. Schaffhausen, steel dart indexes, outer minute track, expertly restored Despite what the photos seem to suggest, it is a true deep and rich royal blue color. Dimensions: 35.3mm wide (without crown), 42.3mm lugs tip-to-tip Hands: Original, steel "dauphines" Jewels: 17 rubies Band: Leather, fully stitched, padded, brand new and unworn with aftermarket IWC style buckle We also stock lizard and a variety of other straps in various prints, skins, and colors. Please ask us if you're interested. Crystal type: Acrylic, excellent condition Movement type: IWC caliber...
Category

1950s Swiss Vintage IWC

Materials

Stainless Steel

IWC Timezoner Le Petit Prince Edition Steel Blue Dial Men Limited Watch IW395503
By IWC
Located in New York, NY
The band shows signs of wear. Recently serviced. The movement is calibrated and keeps time well. 🕰️ Basic Information Brand: IWC Model: Timezoner Le Petit Prince Model Number: IW...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Swiss IWC

Materials

Steel

IWC Portofino Automatic Mens Watch, IW351320 - Stainless Steel
By IWC
Located in Suwanee, GA
NAMED ONE OF WATCHPRO MAGAZINE’S “HOT 100” - THE TOP 100 INFLUENCERS OF THE U.S. WATCH INDUSTRY. HOW CAN WE SERVE YOU? We’re new to offering our carefully curated collection on 1stDibs, but we have sold over 10,000 fine watches and exceptionally served thousands of customers via other online sites with a 5.0 star rating. IWC PORTOFINO Automatic Mens Watch, IW351320 - Stainless Steel Gorgeous Condition - Fully Serviced - 1 Year Warranty Today's offering showcases this very fine IWC Portofino mens watch in gorgeous condition. In design and construction it is very similar to the Portofino's available new today. As the IWC website states, "Over the past three decades, the Portofino watch family has established itself as one of IWC Schaffhausen's most successful families and is equally popular with both men and women. This is due to both the steady demand for classic models and the puristic design of the Portofino models. The origins of the large minimalistic case design for the Portofino can be traced back to the 1970's, when the Lepine pocket watch...
Category

Early 2000s Swiss IWC

Materials

Stainless Steel

IWC Portuguese Annual Calendar Steel Blue Dial Automatic Mens Watch IW503502
By IWC
Located in New York, NY
Pre-owned. Excellent condition. The original box and papers are not included. Comes with a chronostore box. * Free Shipping within the USA * Two-year warranty coverage * 14-day retu...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Swiss IWC

Materials

Steel

IWC Aquatimer Chronograph IW376805 Stainless Steel Rubber Strap Box Paper 44mm
By IWC
Located in San Diego, CA
Style Number: IW376805 Model: IWC Aquatimer Chronograph Case Material: Stainless Steel Band: Rubber Bezel: Stainless Steel Dial: Blue Face: Sapphire Crys...
Category

2010s IWC

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IWC Sale Prices

Sold DateSold PriceCategoryMaterialCreation Year
2025$4,619Wrist WatchesRose Gold1958
2025$1,300Wrist WatchesStainless Steel, DiamondUnknown
2025$2,431Wrist WatchesStainless Steel1958
2025$1,500Wrist WatchesYellow Gold1950
2025$1,995Pocket WatchesGold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold1940's
2025$4,000Wrist WatchesGold1950
2025$3,900Wrist WatchesRose Gold, 14k Gold1940s
2024$4,200Wrist WatchesStainless Steel2013
2024$18,080Wrist WatchesPlatinum2005
2024$4,000Wrist Watches18k Gold, Yellow Gold1967
2024$4,500Wrist WatchesGold1950
2024$5,850Wrist WatchesSteel, Stainless SteelUnknown
$4,849
Average sold price of items in the past 12 months
$1,300-$19,196
Sold price range of items in the past 12 months

Creators Similar to IWC

More IWC Designs
Iwc Ingenieur Watch
Iwc Ingenieur Watch
Average Price
$7,967
Number Available
7
Iwc Ingenieur Watch
By IWC
Styles
Retro
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Iwc Portugieser Watch
Iwc Portugieser Watch
Average Price
$28,364
Number Available
7
Iwc Portugieser Watch
By IWC
Styles
Modernist
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Iwc Portofino Watch
Iwc Portofino Watch
Average Price
$8,631
Number Available
3
Iwc Portofino Watch
By IWC
Styles
Modern
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Iwc jewelry & watches for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a range of IWC jewelry & watches available on 1stDibs. Each of these unique items was designed with extraordinary care, often using gold. While looking for the most stylish antique or vintage IWC jewelry to pair with your ensemble, you’ll find that IWC diamond jewelry & watches, from our inventory of 1, can add a particularly distinctive touch to your look. We have 163 pieces in this collection as well as a number of other designs by this jeweler. Artisan and Art Deco are among the most popular styles of IWC jewelry & watches available on 1stDibs. While this collection reflects work that originated over various time periods, most of these items were designed during the 21st century and contemporary. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider jewelry & watches by Jaeger-LeCoultre, Corum, and Tissot. Prices for IWC jewelry & watches can differ depending upon gemstone, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $994 and tops out at $84,229, while pieces like these, on average, can sell for $7,054.
Questions About IWC
  • 1stDibs ExpertDecember 17, 2024
    Whether IWC watches are expensive is largely a matter of opinion. Usually priced around $5,000, entry-level watches from the Swiss maker are less expensive than similar timepieces offered by other luxury watchmakers. IWC's highest-priced timepieces do sell for upwards of $250,000. Find a collection of IWC watches on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    To tell if your IWC watch is real, first examine the dial. All of the pieces and numbers should be sharp, clear and precise. IWC manufactures their watches to an extremely high standard and any sign of sloppy workmanship is a dead giveaway. Counterfeiters will often use the wrong fonts and colors, so compare your watch against reference pictures of the genuine article. IWC is known for its slim design on their bezels and crowns, and all the pieces should be sleek and fit perfectly together. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of expertly-vetted IWC watches from some of the world’s top sellers.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 25, 2024
    Where IWC ranks in watches is within the realm of high-end timepieces. IWC is one of Switzerland's major luxury watch companies. The maker has gained an international reputation over the past 150 years for its elegant designs and expert craftsmanship. On 1stDibs, explore a variety of IWC watches.
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 22, 2024
    Whether the IWC watch is expensive is largely subjective, and prices for the luxury maker's timepieces do vary. Entry-level IWC watches, such as select Pilot's automatic watches, typically sell for between $4,000 and $7,000, which is similar to or less than the lowest-priced models of some competitors. Of course, the highest-end IWC watches do sell for $200,000 or more. Explore a diverse assortment of IWC watches on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    IWC Watches stands for “International Watch Co.” Founded in 1868 by an American watchmaker in Switzerland, IWC is one of the most respected luxury Swiss watchmakers today. They’re particularly well-known for their aviation watches. Shop a collection of IWC Watches from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertDecember 17, 2024
    Many watch lovers believe that IWC is a good brand of watch. The company still operates alongside the river where it was founded in 1869, having gained an international reputation over the past 150 years for its elegant designs and expert craftsmanship. Collectors prize vintage IWC watches and while the company continues to guard its attention to detail and quality, it has pushed its classic designs forward with modern innovation intended to stand the test of time. IWC’s 2013 Ingenieur watch collection, with its precision based on an inventive constant-force mechanism, looked back to a 1955 Ingenieur model that featured a durable soft-iron inner cage as well as a 1976 update by leading Swiss watch designer Gérald Genta that encased its mechanism in a sleek steel case. IWC has also had a recent push toward sustainability, designing watches that are made to last a lifetime and beyond and earning the highest environmental ranking of any Swiss watch company in a 2018 report published by the World Wide Fund for Nature Switzerland. Explore a diverse assortment of IWC watches on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 26, 2024
    Many watch lovers believe that an IWC watch is a good investment. IWC has gained an international reputation over the past 150 years for its elegant designs and expert craftsmanship. Collectors prize vintage IWC watches and while the company continues to guard its attention to detail and quality, it has pushed its classic designs forward with modern innovation intended to stand the test of time. Demand for many of the maker's timepieces remains high year after year. However, whether or not it's worth investing in IWC watches is totally subjective. At 1stDibs, we believe in buying what you love. Our shopping experience enables discovery and learning, whether you are a seasoned connoisseur or just beginning your collection. Find IWC watches and other watches on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertDecember 17, 2024
    Many watch lovers believe that IWC watches are a good investment. IWC has gained an international reputation over the past 150 years for its elegant designs and expert craftsmanship. Collectors prize vintage IWC watches and while the company continues to guard its attention to detail and quality, it has pushed its classic designs forward with modern innovation intended to stand the test of time. However, whether or not it’s worth investing in IWC watches is totally subjective! At 1stDibs, we believe in buying what you love. Our shopping experience enables discovery and learning, whether you are a seasoned connoisseur or just beginning your collection. Find IWC watches and other watches on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertJune 15, 2023
    Whether an IWC watch is worth buying depends on a few factors, such as how well it has been cared for and the piece itself. IWC, one of Switzerland’s major luxury watch companies, was started by an American who saw the potential of bringing Switzerland’s superb watchmaking into the modern age through industrialized manufacturing and high-precision interchangeable parts. The New Hampshire–born watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones (1841–1916), who founded International Watch Company, known today as simply IWC, in 1868, was interested in “combining all the excellence of the American system of mechanism with the more skillful hand labor of the Swiss.” Pre-owned IWC watches are known to hold their value if extremely well-cared for and some may even increase in value over time. Because it can be difficult to predict how the value of items will change over time, though, choose timepieces that appeal to you. On 1stDibs, shop an assortment of IWC watches from some of the world’s top sellers.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    IWC 5N gold is a type of material used by the company IWC Schaffhausen to produce luxury watches. Specifically, it is an alloy that is 75 percent pure gold and 25 percent copper. People commonly refer to it as 18-karat red gold. On 1stDibs, find a large collection of IWC watches.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    No, IWC no longer makes pocket watches as of December 2021. The watchmaker does use some of the movements developed for their pocket watches in their wristwatch designs. Examples include the Reference 5001, the Portuguese Automatic, and Big Pilot watches. Shop a collection of IWC pocket watches on 1stDibs.

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