IWC

Are you aware that the International Watch Company (IWC) is the only major Swiss firm in producing timepieces whose brainchild is an American citizen? Sounds silly but it is actually a good trivia before proceeding with this article.

In the 1860’s, there were three firms who dominated the timepiece industry in the United States namely Waltham, Howard and Elgin. When you combine them, they were able to produce approximately one hundred thousand products. It was also the very period where the reputation of owning a watch veered away from establishing a status in the society where only the elites can afford down to a mundane accessory where individuals of the average demographic were able to have one on their own. The circumstance actually paved the way for other faster methods of creation.

When you head to Boston in Massachusetts, a certain Florentino Ariosto Jones witnessed the failure of a leader in the timepiece industry, Aaron Lufkin Dennison. He was able to made keen observations because he worked in an American firm that produced watches for quite a while. The said Florentino Ariosto Jones executed efforts to transfer the business to Switzerland to be able to acquire knowledge as well as to benefit from the lesser compensation to be given to the laborers. His plans though did not succeed but he was very decided that he finally established his own plant in the European region and imported the products back to his mother country.

Because of the dauntless endeavor of Florentino Ariosto Jones, the International Watch Company (IWC) was conceived. Accidentally, he met a timepiece smith in the person of Johann Heinrich Moser who was a native of Schaffhausen. The town is located near the Rhine River where he followed the advice given by Johann Heinrich Moser to construct a dam that would harness the body of water then generate hydrological energy to run the machines that were employed to produce the watches. He agreed to the idea since a plant was built in the place in order to take advantage of the affordable expenses.

In 1868, production started. Even with the exceptional business plan, it was thought that the International Watch Company (IWC) was “doomed” even from the early stages. One of the reasons cited was that Florentino Ariosto Jones had difficulty selling the IWC watches in the American market. Second, it was noted that his financial account was not enough to support the technical dilemmas that will be encountered by the machines. By the year 1875, he was in the hunt for new investors that would partner with him even in the midst of annoyed stockholders throwing allegations that the firm was already on the border line of collapsing.

Due to the happenings, Florentino Ariosto Jones filed for bankruptcy but he was still resolved to take control once again of the International Watch Company (IWC). Not for long, a firm from Switzerland acquired its shares where Frederick Seeland was appointed to oversee. The profit of the manufacturer improved in a huge sense but the improvement was not believed to be ample enough to revive the good terms. Later on, one of the stockholders by the name of Johannes Raschenbach- Vogel purchased the IWC at an auction for two hundred eighty thousand francs. Soon, operations progressed and sales boosted especially with the digital IWC watch.

Yes, the International Watch Company (IWC) did experience restoration for the second time around but then again, it strike rock bottom under the leadership of Ernst Homberger Rauschenbach. However, another revival happened in the early stages of the Second World War as there was a demand for timepieces in the armed forces. It was at that period where the firm produced a watch that was anti- magnetic and designed for aviation. Mark X then followed where it featured a novel in- house mechanism called Calibre 83. By 1944, IWC was nearly to a final close as the plant in Schaffhausen was mistakenly bombed.

With all these, the International Watch Company (IWC) is definitely a survivor.