IWC Schaffhausen celebrates its 150th anniversary with a series of limited edition models. Introduced at the SIHH 2018 as one of the most remarkable novelties, IWC Schaffhausen Tribute To Pallweber Edition “150 Years” is under the spotlight.
Josef Pallweber, one of the most important watchmakers of the 19th century, patented the digital dial for mechanical watches in 1883. This patented movement design has been added to the product lines of some Swiss brands, including IWC Schaffhausen. The first IWC Schaffhausen Pallweber pocket watches, introduced in 1885, lasted only two years and discontinued afterwards. Naturally, IWC Schaffhausen Pallweber pocket watches became a popular product among collectors.
IWC Schaffhausen Tribute to Pallweber Edition, introduced in SIHH 2018, is the first IWC wrist watch to display time in this digital manner. The collection is offered with three case alternatives as Platinum, 18K pink gold and stainless-steel measuring 45mm x 12mm. The case size can be called a tad bigger for a dress-watch model on paper, but it’s quite different on the wrist. Due to the design of the short lugs, the models wear very comfortable on the wrist with a compact presence that is not expected from their dimensions. The case is equipped with double AR coated scratch resistant sapphire crystals on both sides and is water resistant to 30 meters / 3 bars.
The Platinum version comes with a white dial and a blue disk, while the 18K pink gold version features a white dial – white disk combination. The stainless-steel version is offered in blue dial – white disk configuration. Time is displayed via different disks moving gradually and being shown through the windows. All models are equipped with a small seconds indicator at 6 o’clock among hour and minute display windows.
The models are powered by the in-house Caliber Ref. 94200 which is based on the IWC Schaffhausen’s Ref. 94XXX movement family. The Ref.94XXX calibers are equipped with double barrels and different complication varying from astronomical calendar to constant force Tourbillons. 54 jewels movement beats at 4Hz (28.800vph) and offers a power reserve of 60 hours when fully wound.
All models are offered on alligator straps manufactured by the giant Italian leather goods manufacturer Santoni. Limited production quantities are; 25 units for the Platinum version, 250 units for 18K pink gold version and 500 units for the stainless-steel version.
The IWC Schaffhausen Tribute to Pallweber Edition has one competitor in terms of its working principle among the brands and models currently available. The Zeitwerk model family produced by A. Lange & Söhne also has the same mechanical caliber and digital time display. Zeitwerk, which is superior in terms of utmost craftsmanship with a more complex movement and smaller case size, has a major drawback of providing only 36 hours power reserve time when fully wound.
