Rated 4.9 on Chrono24
IWC Schaffhausen
Portugieser Chronograph Edition “Laureus Sport for Good Foundation”
€4,499
IWC Schaffhausen watches
IWC Schaffhausen is a Swiss manufacture with American roots and an engineering mindset. Its watches are known for clean, legible design and solid construction, from the Portugieser with its wide dial to the Pilot's Watches, the Big Pilot, the Ingenieur and the Portofino. Several current models use in-house calibres with Pellaton automatic winding, a system developed at IWC around 1950.
- Founded
- 1868, Schaffhausen
- Based in
- Schaffhausen, Switzerland
- In the collection
- 2 watches
2 watches
Showing 2 of 2
An American in Schaffhausen
IWC was founded in 1868 by Florentine Ariosto Jones, an American watchmaker who chose Schaffhausen in northern Switzerland and its access to hydropower from the Rhine. From 1880 the company was owned by the Rauschenbach family, and in 1884 it produced the Pallweber pocket watches with their digital display of hours and minutes.
IWC has been part of the Richemont group since 2000 and is still based in Schaffhausen, where its historic building beside the Rhine serves as headquarters.
Portugieser, Pilot's Watches and Ingenieur
The Portugieser dates from 1939, when two Portuguese businessmen asked for a large wristwatch with the precision of a marine chronometer. IWC answered with a pocket watch movement in a wristwatch case. The Portugieser Chronograph is now one of the brand's best-known models.
The Pilot's Watch Mark 11 of 1948 was built for the British Royal Air Force, with a soft-iron inner case to protect against magnetism. Its descendants include today's Mark series, the Pilot's Chronograph and the Big Pilot. The Ingenieur of 1955 was an antimagnetic watch for engineers and scientists, later redesigned by Gérald Genta in 1976. The Portofino, introduced in 1984, adds a more classic round dress watch to the range.
What to check on a pre-owned IWC
IWC often updates movements within a collection, so the reference tells you which calibre you are buying. The Portugieser Chronograph, for example, moved from a modified Swiss chronograph calibre to the in-house calibre 69355 in its 2020 generation. Check that dial, hands and crown are correct, test the chronograph functions and look at the bracelet or strap and buckle. Box, papers and service history help document the watch.
Every watch at Bare Watches is strictly inspected before sale, and the condition, box and papers are described per watch. You can view a watch by appointment in Berlicum, or order online with fully insured DHL Express shipping, dispatched within 24 hours of payment. Part exchange is possible, and you can also sell or consign your own watch.
Frequently asked questions
For many buyers, yes. IWC watches are robust, highly legible and built to be serviced over many years, which makes a well-kept pre-owned example a practical choice. You also gain access to earlier references and editions that are no longer made. Every IWC we sell is strictly inspected and covered by our 12-month warranty on manufacturing defects.
Yes, by appointment at our location in Berlicum. Because our watches are kept in external secure storage, we ask you to request an appointment at least 48 hours in advance. We review every request, contact you, and confirm the appointment afterwards, so we can have the watch ready for you. If you would rather buy online, the order is dispatched within 24 hours of payment and shipped fully insured with DHL Express.
Yes. You can sell your IWC to us directly, offer it on consignment or use it as part exchange towards another watch. Send us a few photos, the reference and the year, and tell us whether you still have the box and papers. Bare Watches has been a trusted dealer on Chrono24 since 2020 and is rated 4.9 on Trustpilot.
Bare Watches is an independent dealer and is not affiliated with, or an authorised dealer of, IWC Schaffhausen. Brand names, model names and logos are trademarks of their respective owners.
