The name of the famous Swiss watchmaker IWC is actually the abbreviation for International Watch Company. As its name implies, IWC originated from international cooperation. It is in fact founded by an American called Florentine Ariosto Jones.
F.A. Jones had been the director of America’s leading watchmaking company at that time and aimed to blend the Swiss craftsmanship with American modern engineering technology. In 1868, 27-year-old Jones came to Schaffhausen, a small town in eastern Switzerland with a long history of watch making activity. He wanted to open a company to produce movements and watch parts to supply the American market.
He expected the Swiss craftsmen to share their watchmaking expertise with him at his factory. But his brave decision encountered cold shoulders. At that time, although there was an abundant supply of skilled watch craftsmen, most craftsmen tended to work in their homes and feared for working at a factory with the worry of revealing their patrimonial expertise.
Fortunately, an visionary Swiss watch maker and industrialist Johann Heinrich Moser showed interest in Jones’ plan. Moser had built Schaffhausen’s first hydroelectric plant and was highly respected in the local watch industry, he attracted many talented craftmen to work for Jones.The International Watch Company was founded based on such dream partnership of Jones and Moser. Located in Schaffhausen, IWC is the first and only watch manufacturers in north-eastern Switzerland.
The timepieces produced by IWC soon became sought after with their excellent quality and middle-end price. By the year of 1875, IWC already grew into 3 factory premises to meet the increasing demands.