Written By: Kaelyn Harding

IWC, or the International Watch Company, was first begun in 1868 by a man named Florentine Ariosto Jones, who founded his company with the desire to fuse American and Swiss styles of craftsmanship into something new, something that could be produced in both quality and quantity in the age of the industrial revolution. Now, more than a hundred and fifty years later, IWC is an internationally recognized provider of luxury apparel in timepieces.

IWC watches take the “international” part of their name very seriously. Featured on many of their timepieces is the iconic engraved globe in the watch’s face plate. Most of the IWC designs are circular, polished metal, which is supposed to harken to the times when every man carried a pocket watch; the elegance and poise of these watches captures that Victorian feel and transports you with every moment you wear them to that now-distant time. Even the most sophisticated sport watch in the IWC collection brings a measure of sophistication to the table that only the solid metal frame and traditional protruding knobs can achieve. IWC does not often stud their bezels with precious gems, but prefers to let the history and simple perfection of design and composition be their own merits.

An original IWC ad from 1959.

Due to their renown on the world-front, IWC is partnered with several organizations that span the globe, helping not only prepare young adults to enter the world, but also in funding research into the environment and how best the major issues of the world can be conquered. Some of these partners include the Laureus Foundation: Switzerland, Adventure Ecology, and the Charles Darwin Foundation. Keep an eye out for special designs and watches dedicated to their partners, whose sales will directly donate to the causes these foundations and conservations stand for. Your fashion can also finance a great deal of good.

Like all luxury items of high-quality, IWC watches come at an equally luxurious price. In general, a consumer can expect to pay between $3,000 and $9,000 to own one of these classic watches. IWC does also distribute their wares through middle-man retailer both online and in high-end department stores like Macys. Prices can vary depending upon where you obtain your IWC timepiece, so shopping around is always a good idea.

As a piece of history and creators of a modern accessory, few brands balance the look of antiquity and efficiency of a world-class watch like the makers of an IWC.