IWC Aquatimer Automatic Silver (IW3290-04)

An American and his pioneering spirit brought IWC to Schaffhausen. The Swiss watch manufactory has been setting standards in technological development and highly complicated precision watchmaking since 1868. The "Engineers of fine watchmaking" produce men's watches. Intelligent designs in a timelessly classical style. Timepieces with refined details, which are distinguished by their superb user friendliness.
The dials bear the inscription "IWC Schaffhausen", and many a person may well be astonished to find a watch manufacturer with a worldwide reputation in this idyllic little town on the River Rhine. Geographically remote from the renowned watchmaking centres in Switzerland and with a name that is anything but Swiss, the International Watch Company arouses curiosity about its origins. There was once a young American, Florentine Ariosto Jones, from Boston. A master watchmaker with a good measure of idealism and shrewd business acumen to boot. With his ticket for the Atlantic crossing in his pocket, he also had an intelligent plan in his head. He set out to manufacture extremely accurate pocket watch movements using modern American production machines and, in so doing, brought about a horological revolution in Switzerland, at the time a low-wage economy. Jones established his business in Schaffhausen in 1868 and founded the International Watch Company, a cradle of creative precision watchmaking. In a location not far from the Rhine Falls, the young manufactory utilized the energy of the river for its modern production.
A legacy of pioneering spirit, verve and ambition were instilled into the manufactory by its founder. For the engineers at IWC, pleasure in watches is more than pleasure in the accurate time. It is enthusiasm for an amazing idea. The interplay between precision and a creative solution. Accordingly, for more than 130 years, IWC has been devoting a tick more time to watches. In the horological specialities segment, watch lovers are full of praise for the creative engineering art from Schaffhausen. Grande Complication, Da Vinci and Portuguese are the names of these exclusive timepieces. Pilot's watches, Aquatimer and Portofino are in the traditional watches/timepieces sector. With their sporting/practical design and cases made of stainless steel or titanium, they are the daily companions of active people.
A passion for brilliant inventions, technical refinements and horological milestones are, and always were, the driving force behind the engineers at IWC. The only manufactory in eastern Switzerland caused a sensation in 1885, when it amazed the world with one of the first pocket watches with a digital display. And in the race to produce the first watch to be worn on the wrist, IWC in 1899 was the global leader in the series production of wristwatches. "At home in Schaffhausen - successful throughout the world". With this credo, the geographical outsiders steadfastly maintain their leading position. Special watches which offer solutions to specific problems are and were the favourite challenge of the team at Schaffhausen: Antimagnetic pilot's watches, made legendary through the Mark XI produced for the Royal Air Force, and special timepieces for the Navy, railway companies and scuba-divers earned for IWC the reputation as an innovative ideas powerhouse.
A secret passion for world records appears to be inherent in the genes of the company. The Grande Complication, one of the most intricate mechanical wristwatches in the world, consists of 659 micro components. It is a puzzle so complex that only a very few watchmakers are capable of putting it together.
And a rarity that only a few connoisseurs can call their own. For annual production can never exceed 50 examples. The ingenious perpetual calendar from IWC requires no adjustment other than the replacement of the century slide supplied with the watch. It knows every leap year by heart, except for those in the years 2100, 2200 and 2300. These are not leap years according to the Gregorian calendar, and the watchmaker needs to make a minor adjustment. The IWC tourbillon made of titanium with almost 100 component parts sets a record in lightweight engineering - with a total weight of only 0.296 grams. The Aquatimer Automatic 2000 diver's watch is pressure-resistant down to a depth of 2000 metres, and the Portuguese Perpetual Calendar has an amazing dial, which shows the phases of the moon for both hemispheres.
Not only is the Schaffhausen watch manufacturer an expert in traditional precision watchmaking. It has also always gone its own way in the avant-garde use of high-tech materials. IWC was the first watch manufacturer to develop titanium for watchmaking applications and to apply the resulting know-how to the in-house production of cases. Ever since its foundation, IWC has set itself the task of training for succession to ensure that all this watchmakers' knowledge handed down from generation to generation is passed on. Around 400 employees at the Schaffhausen site and a further 100 located all over the world make certain that the tradition of precision watchmaking is enjoyed by connoisseurs. "Probus Scafusia" promises good, solid craftsmanship from Schaffhausen. This long tradition represents a commitment to the future and, just a little, to eternity.