The test of time

The testing is indeed thorough and state of the art. After visiting elements of the testing facility in Schaffhausen it is indeed impressive. However. Not all watches encounter exactly the same testing regimen. Wouldnt it be a fantastic table to view each reference number noting which test that model has passed with flying colours. (Yes Collectors are odd species). I am sure the ceramic case examples struggle through one of the tests mentioned.

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?

Nice article!!! And indeed a potential marketing tool which is not explored (yet). Look at JLC how they use testing to reinforce their brandimage.

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!

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.