IWC watches are manufactured in Switzerland, but the firm was not founded by a Swiss, as most other watch brands are.¹⁾

Florentine Ariosto Jones, a Boston-born engineer and watchmaker, was an American. In 1868, he journeyed all the way to Switzerland to establish his own watch firm. He'd already decided on a name: “International Watch Co.” He brought with him his expertise of American manufacturing practices, which he hoped to blend with the Swiss watchmaking tradition. The purpose was to manufacture movements and watch parts for the American market, and considering the company's name, it was clear that his goal was to go international all along.²⁾

The IWC brand has a long and rich history, which adds to the allure of the timepieces today. ³⁾