If you examine the three IWC in-house movement families—the 52, 80, and 89 series—closely, you'll notice that IWC typically designs its movement bridges with a central axis, with all the fixed bridges radiating outwards evenly from this center. The rotors are also open-worked. Therefore, when viewed through the transparent case back, the bridge layout appears harmonious and balanced, with the bridges arranged in concentric circles, regardless of the rotor's position. The beauty of IWC movements lies in the meticulous design: each critical gear is securely fixed by a bridge, facilitating easy disassembly and repair; the concentric Geneva wave finishing; and the elegant pearled decoration on the main plate. Best cheap watches online, discover our affordable replica IWC watches collection.
Many people mistakenly believe that the finishing and decoration of movement bridges and plates are purely aesthetic. In fact, these decorative patterns were originally designed by watchmakers to prevent dust from directly entering the movement. The patterns create spaces where dust can accumulate, thus protecting the precision of the delicate gear train. Today, this tradition has evolved into increasingly refined and exquisite finishing. These beautiful decorative techniques, combined with IWC's meticulously designed bridges, ensure the smooth and reliable operation of each gear, infusing the functional precision of the movement with a touch of handcrafted warmth.
The output and transmission of power are crucial for maintaining the amplitude stability of a mechanical movement. The mainspring barrel is the key component in this process. A robust mainspring barrel and a stable power transmission mechanism are essential for consistent timekeeping and torque. IWC movements maintain optimal torque by ensuring an appropriate power reserve, which in turn promotes stable amplitude and thus greater accuracy. A longer power reserve doesn't necessarily guarantee better torque performance. In fact, the torque is often less optimal when the mainspring is fully wound or almost depleted. IWC's renowned 7-day power reserve Caliber 52 series uses two mainsprings to achieve a 7-day power reserve (actual power reserve can exceed 7 days). With two mainsprings, the torque is consistently and smoothly distributed to the movement, preventing excessive torque that could damage the gears.
Looking at the dimensions, IWC's in-house movements are typically over 30mm in diameter. This larger movement space allows IWC to design and implement technical solutions that enhance functionality and user experience. The clean and balanced design of IWC dials is a result of this larger movement space, providing ample room for layout and design. IWC's date windows are larger and easier to read than those of other brands, again due to the larger movement space, allowing for more flexibility in dial design.
The arrangement of information on the dial is closely related to the movement. This explains why some watch enthusiasts dislike "small movement, large case" designs, where the dial elements are crammed together. By using a larger movement as a foundation, IWC can better layout various dial functions and accommodate different case sizes. This design philosophy considers readability, functionality, and aesthetics. Design is never arbitrary; it starts with functionality and then evolves into a balanced aesthetic, which is one of the most compelling aspects of IWC watches. The power source of a mechanical watch is the mainspring, which needs to be wound either manually (by hand) or automatically (by the wearer's wrist movements). Automatic winding systems are particularly demanding, as the wrist movements are constantly at unpredictable angles, and with modern lifestyles being less active, the force exerted on the winding system is often less. IWC recognized this need over half a century ago and developed its iconic Pellaton bidirectional winding system, also known as the "woodpecker" winding system. This ratchet-based winding mechanism, designed by IWC's then-technical director Albert Pellaton in the 1950s, uses a rotor that is not directly connected to the winding mechanism. Instead, it is attached to a cam, which is then attached to a ratchet wheel. Two ruby rollers on either side of the ratchet wheel engage with the cam, and two pawls alternately engage the gears to wind the mainspring.
The IWC Pellaton winding system is undoubtedly one of its most famous and proudest achievements. However, true to IWC's philosophy of designing movements for specific functional needs, the Pellaton system, with its numerous components, limited the potential for reducing movement thickness. Therefore, some movements, such as the 69 series and the latest 32 series, use a dual-pawl winding system. This system uses a Y-shaped lever to directly connect the rotor shaft to the reduction gear. When the rotor rotates clockwise, the right arm of the Y-shaped lever pulls the reduction gear clockwise to wind the mainspring, while the left arm remains idle. When the rotor rotates counterclockwise, the left arm pushes the reduction gear, also in a clockwise direction, to wind the mainspring. This system, with its similar operating principle to the Pellaton system, efficiently winds the mainspring and allows for a thinner movement, making it more suitable for integrated chronograph movements like the 69 series and the versatile 32 series base movement.
