IWC Launches Curated: Restored & Certified Vintage Watches Available in Selected Boutiques

The watch market is in rapid evolution. There was a time when watch brands were selling new timepieces, leaving the second-hand and vintage markets in the hands of independent shops. However, times have changed. Consumer behaviours have evolved, with watch enthusiasts rightfully demanding more trust in the process of acquiring pre-owned and vintage models. For that, we have recently seen the rise of CPO programs and curated selections of vintage watches, available at official boutiques. The idea is, of course, to offer a trustworthy experience to collectors, but also, for brands, to capture some of this fast-growing side of the industry. The latest manufacturer to enter the show comes from Schaffhausen, and with IWC. Curated. the brand aims to offer inspected, restored and serviced historical watches, covered by a warranty. 

The IWC. Curated. label isn’t part of the recent arrival of CPO programs, which mostly offer fairly recent (for the most part) pre-owned watches. IWC’s initiative here isn’t to offer a selection of recent Big Pilots and now-discontinued Portugieser models. It is, for now, exclusively focused on important historical models that are categorised as vintage. “The focus lies on references that represent important eras of the brand’s history or watchmaking legacy,” explains the brand. So, if you’re looking for a first-generation Portugieser Chronograph reference 3714, it isn’t yet where you should search. Maybe this will come in the future.

IWC. Curated. is about important vintage watches, identical in concept to other initiatives done by Longines, Zenith or Vacheron Constantin in recent years. And thanks to over 150 years of history, there are quite a few notable models to discover in the brand’s portfolio. “Every era has produced watches that are still highly sought after by enthusiasts today, be it because of their historical significance, intricate engineering or timeless design,” explains IWC. Of course, most of the watches covered by the IWC. Curated. label will be, at least looking at initial selection, from the wristwatch era of watchmaking, the 1950s to the late 1980s.

The idea with this program is to offer peace of mind to enthusiasts who are looking to acquire a vintage model. Each watch under this label is hand-picked by the brand’s historical team, and will be meticulously inspected, restored and serviced by IWC’s experienced vintage watchmakers in Schaffhausen. Once arrived, cases, bracelets, and movements will be restored as close as possible to original condition using authentic and, if possible, period-correct components, and using corporate archives, which contain a wide selection of spare parts. In addition, IWC also offers a service to locate and procure specific references on the customer’s behalf.

Upon completion of the restoration process, IWC issues an official certification that details the authenticity and provenance of each watch. All IWC. Curated. watches come with IWC’s International Limited Warranty, which can be extended to eight years upon registration. These watches will be available, to start, in selected boutiques in Switzerland (Schaffhausen), the United Kingdom (London Battersea), Dubai Mall and Japan (Tokyo Ginza). The initial selection includes models such as an original Genta-designed Ingenieur SL, Reference 1832, a Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph (Ref. 3750) from 1985, or a Mark 11 model made in 1952 for the British Royal Air Force.

Finally, to know more about IWC. Curated, we’ve asked some questions to David Seyffer, IWC’s Museum Curator.

How do you select the watches that will be made available?

David Seyffer, IWC’s Museum Curator – IWC Schaffhausen looks back on a history spanning more than 150 years. Every era has produced watches that are still highly sought after by enthusiasts today, be it because of their historical significance, intricate engineering or timeless design. With IWC.Curated, we want to provide our clients with an attractive offering of hand-picked historical IWC watches. The focus lies on references that represent important eras of the brand’s history or watchmaking legacy. In each of the boutiques where IWC. Curated. is available, we want to provide an ample and attractive selection for our clients.

Where do you source these watches from?

Throughout the decades, our experts from the IWC Museum have forged deep connections with IWC collectors and watch lovers in many countries all over the world. This network is now proving to be invaluable when it comes to sourcing historical IWC watches that represent important technical milestones or key eras of the brand’s history. In addition to selecting a base catalogue of IWC. Curated. watches ourselves we also offer a service to locate and procure specific references on the customer’s behalf.

Is the selection of IWC. Curated. limited to a certain period of production or based on, for instance, rarity? 

The selection within the IWC. Curated. offering is not limited to a certain period of production or based solely on one criterion, such as rarity. We are taking a much more holistic approach. Some watches may be relevant because of their historical significance, such as the Mark 11, a navigator’s wristwatch IWC developed in 1948 for the British Royal Air Force. Other watches may stand out for their functionality, like the IWC Porsche Design Compass Watch, which combines a mechanical movement with a compass. Some pieces may be chosen because of their design, such as the Ingenieur SL, created by Gérald Genta during the 1970s. We may also select watches because they feature specific complications, such as the first IWC double chronograph or the legendary perpetual calendar from Kurt Klaus.

For more details, please visit iwc.com.