Thomas, you may have seen this lab but I'm wondering if you saw the small lab near movement assembly where they check water resistance, etc. It's different; this lab is extensive and in a separate small building. About two years ago they brought in a head of quality control and he has a whole team...possibly the subject of another article.
Also Norbert --the photos aren't mine. I did take a lot of photos but IWC decided on different ones.
Thanks MF for another good read here - and for sharing some of the "insider" info on what happens behind the scences in Scahffhausen before a watch goes into prodcution and finally onto our wrists!
Best regards
Mark
very cool insider viewpoint. thanks for writing this Michael.
Thanks Michael, extremely interesting and reassuring.
The lab I visited is in a separate small building that is on the South West vicinity a few hundred meters from the main HQ.
Thank you Michael! Very interesting!
Michael, thanks! Very interesting indeed and followed by very nice photos.
Regards
Michael
I wonder, are the movement types with a tourbillon tested this rigorously too?
Kind regards,
Paul
Thanks Michael for this great article. I have seen the older testing facilities in 2007 and I saw indeed Tourbillons being subjected to tests that make your stomach hurt being a watch fan...
Kind regards,
Clemens
Michael, that's a watch winder to die for! Will they add it to the catalog?
Zyxtimer
I am new to the forum and this is one of the first threads I discovered - amazing. Where I work we do lots of very similar testing, but it is for parts which will operate in space - remarkable to think these fine instruments are subjected to (and survive) such harsh exposures! Maybe horology really is "rocket science". Thanks for the insight.
This testing lab, do the other Richemont brands have something similar or is it shared within the family?
I don't know about other Richemont brands, but to my knowledge this degree of quality control is unique to IWC. IWC has initiated a large quality initiative, with significant resources, that may be a subject of a future article. The Lab is only one component of a significant initiative.
Nice article!!! And indeed a potential marketing tool which is not explored (yet). Look at JLC how they use testing to reinforce their brandimage.
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Hidden by on 8 Nov 2018, 4:24 p.m..
Nice article. I missed this 1st time around. Nice to know how serious they are about the quality.
A well timed article for those with doubts about IWC quality control issues,me included.
Kenneth.
Michael,
Articles like this fantastic one, especially about the "back room operations" at IWC make me proud to be an IWC Collector!
Best,
Larry
The pendulum is almost as beautiful as the watches! very intersting article, thank you!
Thanks. I'm glad the article is getting a second life.
Just killing some time and found this article. Much thanks for the inside look at quality control-something not often discussed when rhapsodizing about our favorite watches and brands. The pictures are killer too.
Very good pictures and i hope i have one that watch next time.
