2006 TZ Tour, Installment 2, page 3

2006 TimeZone Tour

Installment 2, page 3: Visit to the IWC Manufacture

by Michael Sandler

July 2006

The next step in the tour takes us to the casemaking area. IWC does roughly half their casemaking on-site, and outsources the remainder. Much of their bracelet production is outsourced as well, although critical connecting pieces are still made here. All the ceramic cases are made by a specialist, since the tooling and equipment needed is substantially different from that used to make cases in metal.

Here we see racks holding partially completed bezels.

As previously mentioned, much of the bracelet manufacture is not done here, although key pieces (case attachments and critical links) are still made at the manufacture. Here is an example from the Ingenieur bracelet.

...and that same part inside the cutting machine.

A sample showing the steps necessary to create the bezel for a previous model of the Aquatimer.

More casebacks and bezels.

Hare are some examples of work that can be done using the spark erosion machines that almost all manufacturers are now using to cut small parts.

Here Mr. Grötchen explains how the intricate cutting work is done. Jackson, David and Ed look on.

And then it is time to return to the conference room where out tour began, but before we do, here is a quick view from the window of the machine shop. The river below is the Rhein (more on that later).

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