Singapore (Oct 14): Founded in 1868, IWC Schaffausen has an intriguing story to tell about its history and achievements. The public will have a rare opportunity to witness this through the Inside IWC History Exhibition. This is the brand’s broadest retrospective in Southeast Asia and will highlight three watch families. Each will tell a story of a past that helped shape the future of the IWC timepieces that followed.
The watch families are Pilot’s Watches, Portugieser and Portofino. They were specially selected by the team at the IWC Museum in Schaffhausen. Of note are The Pilot’s Watch Mark 11 from 1948, famous for introducing the anti-magnetic, soft-iron inner case; the Portugieser Ref 325 from 1942, sought after by Portuguese ship captains who desired large wristwatches with the precision of pocket watches; and the Portofino Hand Wound Moonphase Ref 5251, unveiled in 1984 and developed from a simple pocket watch by IWC’s former design head Hanno Burtscher and master watchmaker Kurt Klaus.
Stanislas Rambaud, managing director for IWC Southeast Asia, says, “The beauty of IWC is in the unique spirit of its watch families. For instance, our Pilot’s Watches bring to life the dream of flying; the Portugieser carries our most sophisticated complications; and the Portofino captures the classic elegance that we, as a luxury brand, do exceedingly well.”
In addition to the Pilot’s Watches, Portugieser and Portofino families, the exhibition also presents visitors with the rare opportunity to -discover the tradition of IWC — a brand typically perceived as male-oriented — in engineering ladies’ timepie-ces. One wearable piece of art to admire is the Savonette Lady’s Pocket Watch “Jones” from 1879, which is travelling out of Switzerland for the first time. IWC’s existing collection of haute horlogerie completes the journey of discovery from past to present.
The Inside IWC History Exhibition also strengthens the 30-year-long partnership between IWC Schaffhausen and Sincere Fine Watches, one of Singapore’s most prestigious retailers of high-end timepieces.
Rambaud adds, “We are proud to debut in Singapore for this first-of-its-kind exhibition concept, which allows our most valued clients, fans of IWC and the public to immerse themselves in the emotions of our most successful lines at the same time.”
Inside IWC History Exhibition
Date: Oct 14 to 27
Venue: Level 1 Main Atrium, Takashimaya Shopping Centre
Time: 10am to 9.30pm
Admission: Free
Pilot’s Watch Mark 11
Portugieser Ref 325
Portofino Hand Wound Moonphase Ref 5251
