The history of IWC

In 868 Florentine Ariosto Jones (1841–1916), an American engineer and watchmaker who was a director of E. Howard & Co. in Boston, founded the International Watch Company.[9] He planned to assemble the watches in Switzerland and import them to the United States. Wages were relatively low in Switzerland at the time, although skilled watchmaking labor was readily available,[9] which was mainly done by people in their homes. Jones faced opposition to his plans in French-speaking Switzerland because Jones wanted to open a factory.

In 1850, the city of Schaffhausen was threatened by the backwardness of the industrial age. During this phase, watchmaker and industrialist Heinrich Moser built Schaffhausen’s first hydroelectric power plant and helped further industrialization.[11][12] He met F.A. in Le Locle. Jones and showed great interest in his plans. Together they laid the foundations of the only watch manufacturer in the north-eastern part of Switzerland. The brand was formerly known as International Watch Chronology.[citation needed]

Early stages and bankruptcy

IWC factory in Schaffhausen.

In 1869, F.A. Jones rented the first factory premises from J.H. in an industrial building owned by him. Moser on the Rheinstrasse. Renting additional premises in the Oberhaus In 1874, plans for a new factory were already being drawn up and space was purchased from Moser’s hydroelectric plant. Schaffhausen architect G. Meyer won the order to design and build the factory. One year later, in the spring of 1875, construction was completed. At first, 196 people worked in the 45-meter-long factory, which could accommodate up to 300 jobs.[citation needed] F.A. However, Jones had trouble selling the watches in America due to tariffs, financing, and mechanical problems.[10] By 1875, shareholders claimed the company was on the verge of collapse, and Jones sought new investors. The company eventually went bankrupt and Jones was forced to relinquish control of the company…..