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IWC Opens New NYC Boutique

IWC has opened its new flagship boutique on Madison Avenue in New York City just a few blocks uptown from its previous location. Now at 645 Madison Avenue at the corner of 60th Street, the new boutique is larger and offers a wider range of amenities and customer experiences. These include a fully transparent watchmaker atelier, a product test lab display and the Portugieser individualization service.

Drawing inspiration from its surroundings, the boutique blends Swiss engineering and fine watchmaking with New York City style. Large floor-to-ceiling windows allow a clear view into the 2,357-square-foot boutique, which features a black and white color scheme. Customers can explore all IWC collections.

On a central display, the collections are shown alongside different modules, highlighting IWC’s expertise in colored ceramics, chronographs, and case engineering.

The inner workings of the IWC-manufactured 52000 caliber automatic movement and the Pellaton winding system are also explained with the help of large models. A separate fine watchmaking exhibition showcases complex complications. In one example, customers can see the newly introduced Portugieser collection, including the IWC Portugieser Eternal Calendar (Ref. IW505701) with a moon accuracy of 45 million years.

The inner workings of the IWC-manufactured 52000 caliber automatic movement and the Pellaton winding system are also explained with the help of large models. A separate fine watchmaking exhibition showcases complex complications. Displays also highlight IWC’s expertise in colored ceramics, chronographs, and case engineering.

And, for the first time, IWC will feature a watchmaker atelier at the front of the boutique. Visitors can observe the artisan skills of an IWC watchmaker working on IWC-manufactured movements. In addition, a product test lab station showcases selected steps of IWC’s various product testing procedures.

A lounge and a cafe are also available, with the lounge suitable for VIP and private events and a bar that doubles as a space for watchmaking classes.

Finally, IWC introduces a strap configurator for Portugieser, Pilot’s Watch and Portofino models together with Manufacture Jean Rousseau. Each strap is fully customizable from materials, colors, linings, stitching and even optional engravings to suit individual preferences.

The opening of the Madison Avenue IWC flagship boutique comes shortly after the grand opening of the Rodeo Drive flagship boutique opening in Beverly Hills, making it the fifth flagship globally.

“After 12 years in our first Madison Avenue Boutique, we are pleased to move to our new home at 645 Madison Avenue, at the corner of 60th and Madison. This new concept truly represents the DNA of IWC, which reflects modernity while putting craftsmanship and engineering at the center of everything we do. We cannot wait to welcome our customers, watch enthusiasts, and the watch curious to talk and learn about our watches and longstanding heritage,” says Stanislas Rambaud, IWC Brand President USA.

The new IWC flagship boutique is located at 645 Madison Avenue and is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Monday through Saturday, and from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Source: IWC Schaffhausen

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Madison Avenue Watch Week Begins April 30

Madison Avenue watch boutiques welcome watch collectors, connoisseurs and the curious during the 10th Annual Madison Avenue Watch Week, which starts April 30 and runs through May 4.

Visitors can stroll the avenue to see the newest timepieces and can participate in educational sessions, watchmaking workshops and dynamic discussions around the most important topics in the watch world today.

Jaeger-LeCoutre Watch Workshop at the watchmaker’s Madison Avenue boutique.

The 10th Annual Madison Avenue Watch Week is organized by the Madison Avenue Business Improvement District, its leading watch brands and boutiques, and for the first time, in partnership with the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH). The event is also held in association with the Horological Society of New York and RedBar.

The public is invited to experience the new and iconic timepieces in special viewings at the twelve participating watch stores located on Madison Avenue between East 57th and East 75th Streets.

The Week kicks-off with celebratory opening night receptions on Tuesday, April 30 from 6 to 8pm. A spirited panel discussion will take place on Thursday, May 2 at 9am, when industry experts will review the most exciting launches from Watches and Wonders Geneva, explore how vintage watches of the past are inspiring today’s designs, and share their insights on what the future holds for collectors and connoisseurs. That will be followed by the annual Madison Avenue Watch Week Walk – a stroll up the Avenue to visit participating boutiques with the experts to experience the novelties first-hand.

For further details on opening night, watch-related programming and events, see   https://madisonavenuewatchweek.com/

 

Highlights of Madison Avenue Watch Week

A. Lange & Söhne will provide the opportunity to learn about the history of the brand while experiencing the craftsmanship through a live demonstration on one of its in-house movements and a dialog with one of our own watchmakers flown in from Glashütte, Germany. By appointment only.

Apple will curate your own Today at Apple Watch session. Learn ways to personalize and utilize for your business. By appointment.

Breitling Boutique celebrates the 140th anniversary a special vintage collection of watches that highlight Breitling’s innovation since 1884.

The Breitling Superocean Heritage 57 Highlands.

Buccellati will share its extraordinary timepiece history and present a special showing in its gallery setting.

Davide Cenci will host an “Off The Cuff” fashion showing moderated by Michael Macko pairing men’s fashion with a curated collection of vintage watches presented by Element iN Time NYC.

Element iN Time NYC will display its vast collection of vintage and modern timepieces from assorted Swiss manufactures. Book an appointment to view to a private collection of Clocks and Watches and meet the collector, a former UN Diplomat who has been hunting them worldwide for 50 years. By appointment only.

IWC Portugieser Chronograph Obsidian

IWC Schaffhausen will present a panel discussion: How a Watch Stays Eternally Relevant, for an exploration of the IWC Portugieser and how it has remained an icon for 85 years – and private, small group product presentations of the newest timepieces just unveiled at Watches and Wonders Geneva.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Duometre Chronograph Moon.

Jaeger-LeCoultre offers a series of Watchmaking Masterclasses led by an expert watchmaker. Participants will actively practice skills of traditional watchmaking with the opportunity to bring a timepiece to life by assembling a mechanical movement.  Reservation required.

Montblanc celebrates the beginning of Madison Avenue Watch Week and invites watch connoisseurs to discover its curated collection of 2024 Watch Novelties by private appointment with a Montblanc watch specialist.

Ralph Lauren will have on view a specially curated timepiece collection for Madison Avenue Watch Week.

The 1916 Company presents exclusive F.P. Journe and De Bethune Watches & Wonders Open House Exhibitions as well as F.P. Journe and Bethune Education Sessions with Jack Forster, George Mayer and Tim Mosso.

 

Source: Madison Avenue Watch Week

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Watches and Wonders 2023: IWC Revisits Ingenieur 

During Watches and Wonders 2023, IWC revisited its Ingenieur collection by debuting Ingenieur Automatic 40, a new collection of three steel-cased models, while also adding a new titanium version of the watch.

The new IWC Automatic 40 titanium model. Three steel-cases model also debuted at Watches and Wonders.
The back of the IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40 in titanium.

While we’ve seen titanium versions of the post-1976 Gerald Genta-designed Ingenieur in the past, this year’s debut is an all-new ongoing model that, from early notices, seems bound to be a hit for the Schaffhausen-based watchmaker.

With a name meaning ‘engineer in both French and German, the Ingenieur collection has been where IWC placed its most ‘technical’ designs over the years. IWC launched the collection in 1955 to highlight its first automatic movement protected with a soft-iron inner case for magnetic field protection.

 

This tool-watch focus remains as all the new Ingenieur Automatic 40 references are powered by the IWC-manufactured Caliber 32111, boasting a superior power reserve of 120 hours.

Also, all the new models feature soft-iron inner cases to protect the movements from magnetic fields, and all are water-resistant to 100 meters. 

The latest Ingenieur collection traces its design from the 1970s, more specifically from Gérald Genta’s Ingenieur SL, Reference 1832.

IWC modeled the new collection on the 1970s-era Ingenieur SL Ref. 1832, designed by Gerald Genta.

On each Ingenieur Automatic 40 watch you’ll see five functional, polygonal screws along the bezel to secure the bezel to the case. These echo the Genta design, though on the original model the screws were not always in the same location along the bezel.

 

Here, a permanent pattern for the screws contributes to the case and bezel design while also enhancing the watch’s integrity.

To create its new, distinctive ‘grid’ pattern dial, IWC’s watchmakers stamp the pattern (small lines offset by 90 degrees to each other) into a soft iron blank, and then galvanize it.

The result is a pleasing texture and design that meshes nicely with the entire watch’s technical nature. A new, slightly curved case enhances the model’s wrist friendliness.

For the steel Ingenieur Automatic 40, IWC offers black, silver and aqua dials, while the titanium model is matched with a nice grey dial, notably darker than the silver-dialed steel model.

The titanium watch (Ref. IW328904 ) is also sand-blasted with polished bevels and brushed sides.

 

Its sturdy integrated Grade 5 titanium bracelet with butterfly folding clasp maintains the entire watch’s lightness, which also contributes to the watch’s wrist-friendliness. Titanium’s anti-allergy properties are also a plus.

Price: $11,700 (steel) and $14,600 (titanium).

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Watches With a Cause

By Gary Girdvainis 

The Maurice Lacroix Aikon #tide is made from #Tide plastics. This material, which includes fabric, rope and more, has been recovered and up-cycled for use as a watch case material.

Maurice Lacroix offers its Aikon #tide in ten colors on a white or black recycled strap.Truly a laudable ideal, recovering, reusing and recycling / upcycling is the wave (pun intended) of the future. More companies at-large, and a host of watch brands in-particular, are recognizing the value of conservation and recycling.

The Ulysse Nardin Lemon Shark

Whether this is an earnest effort by leadership concerned with the state and fate of the planet, or the more mercenary motivation of a marketing mantra is actually a moot point. Doing good is worth it, whether it comes from the heart – or feeds the bottom line.

Ulysse Nardin backs Ocearch’s mission to provide resources to better understand the shark’s role in the ocean’s fragile ecosystem.

Oris helps rebuild ocean reefs and invests in clean water initiatives, Ulysse Nardin supports the amazing work of Chris Fischer and the Ocearch research team gathering (and notably sharing) data on ocean going apex predators as well as sea turtles, Blancpain’s Ocean Commitment comes to life around the world in partnership with various scientific and oceanic entities to study and preserve various aquatic ecosystems. 

Other brands, like IWC, are vying for carbon neutrality in manufacturing, while Mondaine and others are using unusual sources to develop their own sustainable sources for environmentally friendly materials for cases and straps.

From my perspective as an avid outdoorsman and current resident of the planet, I appreciate these efforts and will continue to promote these relationships in our coverage and encourage more brands to engage as they are able to in conservation, philanthropy, and other altruistic endeavors. 

It’s About Time…to save the planet – one watch at a time…

This article first appeared in the Summer 2022 issue of About Time. 

 

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IWC Adds Two Spitfire Models to Big Pilot’s 43mm Collection

After introducing its 43mm Big Pilot’s Watch earlier in April, IWC now adds two Spitfire models to the collection. That initial debut introduced the new 43mm size to the Big Pilot’s collection, offering a smaller diameter option to those who want this collection’s military profile (and distinctive conical crown) to fit more snugly on moderate-sized wrists.

The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Spitfire features a bronze case and crown.

These two new models, one in a matte grey titanium case with a black dial and one with a very nice bronze case framing a military green dial, offer the Big Pilot’s design but do so with stricter military specs that require closed casebacks.

The Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Spitfire, with titanium case.

Both these new watches offer a titanium case back that IWC has engraved with an image of a Spitfire fighter plane, and both include a soft-iron inner case for protection against magnetic fields.

The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Spitfire (Ref. IW329702) with the bronze case, gold-plated hands and bronze crown presents collectors with a real visual treat beyond its inherent military demeanor.

The watch’s stylish color combination sacrifices none of its technical chops. IWC says its bronze alloy is considerably harder than traditional bronze because it includes copper, aluminum and iron. And as any owner of a bronze watch will testify, bronze will develop a unique patina over time to create a distinctive look.

IWC has coated the watch’s hands and hour markers with a generous helping of luminescent material and has attached a green buffalo stitched leather strap. Price: $9,350.

IWC’s Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Spitfire (Ref. IW329701) offers its own aesthetic attractions, primarily its historically inspired black ‘observation’ watch dial. This means the hour hands are not the focus for pilots who need to know minutes and seconds quickly. Thus, the minutes and seconds appear larger, printed in white on the outer ring, which make it easier for pilots to read the minutes and seconds.

IWC fits this model with brown calfskin leather strap with contrast stitching. Price: $8,950.

IWC powers both watches with its own 82100 Caliber movement that boasts the famed, hyper-efficient IWC Pellaton winding system and zirconium oxide wheels and pawls. Power reserve is sixty hours. Both watches also feature IWC’s own EasXchange system for quick, tool-free strap changes.

 

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