IWC Schaffhausen

Abu Dhabi, 14 January 2012 – After a 2-week spectacle, the Volvo Ocean Race stopover in the host port of Abu Dhabi has come to an end this Saturday. As Official Timekeeper, Swiss watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen awarded the coveted trophy in its 24-hour Speed Record Challenge to the Groupama sailing team.

As part of the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), IWC Schaffhausen invited around 1,000 guests and journalists from all over the world to the launch of its new Pilot’s Watch collection in Geneva

If you’re an insider, you can sneak into the SIHH – the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie – a day early, before it’s officially open.

Of IWC Schaffhausen’s modern Pilot’s Watches, the Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph and the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph have proved their longstanding credentials.

In view of rapidly advancing globalization, it is becoming increasingly important for pilots, frequent flyers and international business people to keep track of what is happening in different time zones. The new Pilot’s Watch Worldtimer from IWC Schaffhausen masters this challenge elegantly and practically, even when crossing the International Date Line.

The Spitfire Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month is the first Pilot’s Watch launched by IWC Schaffhausen to feature a perpetual calendar, a digital date and month display, and an innovative stopwatch display. The IWC-manufactured 89800 calibre provides a suitable drive.

Since its initial launch in 2006, the Spitfire Chronograph from IWC Schaffhausen has enjoyed increasing popularity. Now, with its slate-coloured dial, it has an attractive new face and, with the IWC-manufactured 89365 calibre, a drive that leaves nothing to be desired.

Watch legends like the Big Pilot’s Watch of 1940 or the Mark 11 of 1948 have had a decisive influence on the new appearance of the classical pilot’s watches. In 2012, their successors, the Big Pilot’s Watch and the Pilot’s Watch Mark XVII, demonstrate that IWC Schaffhausen continues to write the success story of these pioneering watches even now, over 70 years later.

In 2012, the year of the Pilot’s Watches, IWC Schaffhausen is proud to unveil the new products from its Spitfire collection. In terms of design, finishing, materials and, needless to say, technology, the new Spitfire models are indeed off to a flying start. Taking centre stage is the digital date display of the perpetual calendar, inspired by cockpit instrumentation like the altimeter.

The sheer power and technical superiority of the Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar TOP GUN are clear for all to see. Much like the hangars housing the state of the art supersonic jets at the elite flying school in Fallon, Nevada, the impressive high-tech ceramic case of this watch accommodates some of watchmaking’s greatest achievements.

For over 70 years, IWC Schaffhausen has been making professional timepieces for pilots and their passengers. In 2012, the IWC Pilot’s Watch Classics collection will be appearing with five models in the authentic cockpit-style design. The basic qualities of these classics remain timeless: precision, functionality and reliability.

Heading up the professional Pilot’s Watches from IWC Schaffhausen is the new 2012 TOP GUN collection. And in the vanguard is the new Miramar line: a tribute to the birthplace of the Top Gun legend in California.

Inspired by the spirit of the first Top Gun flight school in Miramar, California, two models in the TOP GUN collection race into 2012: the Big Pilot’s Watch TOP GUN Miramar and the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN Miramar.

More than 70 years after its maiden flight and
10 years after a greatly publicized relaunch,
the Big Pilot’s Watch finally enters the jet age
in 2012 thanks to the TOP GUN line.

The top pilot’s job is an ongoing struggle against time: when an alert sounds, he has to start working with all the precision of a watch movement and have his jet up in the air within no time. A chronograph with down-to-the-second accuracy is de rigueur in the TOP GUN Pilot’s Watch line.

IWC Hong Kong is pleased to announce the winner for the Volvo Ocean Race Money Can’t Buy Experiences

IWC Schaffhausen gets off to a powerful start in 2012: the year of the Pilot’s Watch. With five new models, the TOP GUN collection establishes itself as an independent formation within the IWC Pilot’s Watch family.

To all our wonderful fans and the IWC family: thank you for an incredible year of sharing, comments, and passion for wonderful watchmaking. We wish you and your loved ones a Happy Holiday Season, and hope to continue to entice you with our world in 2012. Best Wishes from Schaffhausen, your IWC Team.

Cape Town, 9 December 2011 – The first leg of the round-the-world Volvo Ocean Race 2011–2012 came to a spectacular end in Cape Town.

IWC’s Abu Dhabi Racing Team’s striking black racing yacht, Azzam, which was dismasted on the first night of the Volvo Ocean Race competition, arrived at Cape Town’s port last week. We are pleased to report that our team’s yacht came in safe, and was lifted by crane straight off the ship and into the water.