Prestige issue 291, Jul-Aug-Sept. 2018
IWC Tribute to Pallweber«150 Years» Edition
To celebrate its 150th anniversary, IWC Schaffhausen unveiled at the International Exhibition of Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in Geneva an exclusive model of the anniversary collection: a pocket watch with jumping figures. The «IWC Tribute to Pallweber» watch is the first IWC pocket watch with digital display of hours and minutes since 1890, when the production of the historic Pallweber model was discontinued. It is also the first pocket watch presented by the Swiss luxury watch brand in the 21st century. In 1884, IWC manufactured the first pocket watches known as Pallweber watches. These innovative timepieces showed the hours and minutes digitally, with rotating discs and large numbers. To celebrate its 150th anniversary, IWC pays tribute to this innovation with a model called IWC Tribute to Pallweber Edition «150 Years» (Ref IW505101). This exclusive pocket watch was made in a limited edition of 50 pieces. It has an 18-carat red gold case, decorated with a guilloche pattern by hand and accompanied by an 18-carat red gold chain. The watch features a white lacquered dial with white display disks. The small second hand is blued. In reference to the design of historical Pallweber watches and in honor of F.A. Jones, the American watchmaker founder of IWC, the mentions «Hours» and «Minutes» are written related to their respective window. Two windows on the spring lid, to read the time even when the watch is closed. The back of the case has a second protective cover.
Three limited edition wristwatches
As part of the anniversary collection made on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Manufacture, we also have three wristwatches with jumping hours and minutes «IWC Tribute to Pallweber» in limited edition. In doing so, the factory incorporates for the first time the digital display of hours and minutes in a wristwatch. In 1884, IWC had already introduced this way of displaying time on pocket watches, a revolution at the time. The old Pallweber pocket watches displayed the hours and minutes using large numbers printed on rotating discs. But this innovative display was too far ahead of its time: the watches only met with success for a while before disappearing from the points of sale. In this anniversary year, IWC salutes the pioneering work of Schaffhausen watchmakers by offering the IWC Tribute to Pallweber Edition «150 Years» (code 5050). For the94200 manufacture caliber, IWC watchmakers have developed a new patented solution for a state-of-the-art digital display. While the discs of the old Pallweber pocket watches were driven by perforated gears, it is a separate wheel, with its own barrel, that gives life to the minute disc. A trigger mechanism connected to the watch train immediately releases and re-locks the watch every 60 seconds. After 10 minutes, the minute disc moves the disc forward tens of a notch. And every 60 minutes, the hours drive goes to the next digit by jumping. Since the separate gear train does not affect the strength of the normal gear train, it is possible to guarantee precise running and a 60-hour power reserve.
