- IWC stainless Steel cases being tested for corrosion (in house homologation)

IWC stainless Steel cases being tested for corrosion (in house homologation)

Here is why the IWC steel cases you own, will propably last a very long while without being "stained".

Prolonged exposure in a saline tank....case samples are dissected and studied thru an electron microscope...for even the tiniest inclusions which would later show up as spots on the case. These will be rejected. Cases tested as a batch by batch basis.

Many companies do these tests outhouse, with contracters. But IWC does it all inhouse..for many years already, even at the old factory, where I took these pics.

The new premises has a cool homologation room.

More pics later!

checking visually for corrosion

The 'butcher' of IWC..

A batch of new straps

Checking for aging

Strenght as suspended for long periods with weights

Interesting reminder of how thorough IWC are in testing

By: Dirk : January 3rd, 2008-18:59

When you meet the man, you get the impression of a gentle, kind nature - but he is, of course, living out destructive tendencies from which most watch lovers would shrink in horror - hammer testing a skeleton perpetual, anyone? Cheers, Dirk

Yes Dirk..the next set of pics would show a hammer test!

By: bernard cheong : January 4th, 2008-00:44

thats amazing..

By: rijowysock : January 3rd, 2008-19:23

i was debating between the big ingy and the 233 and it was really close.. but this attention to detail made me wanna go with the big Ingy... calling AD tomorrow :-D riley

The inhouse Homologation Department heralds back to the early 1990s

By: bernard cheong : January 4th, 2008-00:54

IWC was an axis from which operated JLC and Lange and iWC. The inhouse tests allowed a flexibility of monitoring materials that were ordered from sub contractors, this was then passed on to in house manufacture or onwards to other sub contractors for cutt...

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