From 1888 to 1956, IWC Co, or Illinois Watch Case Company was one of the most respected names in the industry. Known for outfitting many of the industry’s most notable manufactures with case componentry and designs, the brand was a popular collaborator with Longines.

What we see here today is an outgrowth of this union. Bringing the expert case manufacturing of IWC Co. to the watchmaking prowess of Longines and the early century designs of the 1900s, we are met with an incredible offering. This incredible piece features a Napolean-style case, and has the numerals of the dial set on the bezel, allowing the dial to maintain fantastic legibility and size in spite of the more modest proportions of the watch.

This is an incredibly innovative and design-forward way of orienting a watch, and helps this piece stand out even in a modern context.

Outfitted with a 10L manually-wound movement, this piece has the satisfying audible and tactile feedback of 1900s hand cranking movements, and is a true joy to wind. The watch industry sadly no longer makes watches of this kind, and we must look back in the archive to find horological gems like these to enjoy. This piece is a wonderful snapshot of watchmaking from the previous century, and speaks more broadly to all that made the early 1900s exciting from a cultural perspective as well. A bit rebellious, irreverent in design, but still tasteful in the aggregate, this is a really cool watch that gets a lot right. This is an important opportunity to own a relevant part of horological history packaged in a fun format.