IWC

The care and exactitude with which IWC takes in the transport of parts, extends to in house testing of variations in simulated transport conditions.

These tests done in the homologation laboratory were set up in the 90s, and are evolving even today.

Here we see an old style box, with silicon edges, used to test completed watches, and their ability to withstand knocking around during transport.

Here the box, with the watch inside is shaken up, rotated at high speed, and vibrated.

 

Here are special plastic carriers that are used by many companies, including IWC, to deliver your watch, minus strap, to your AD.

The plastic carriers have a internal air filled bag on both halves, and a membrane sandwiches the watch, not allowing it to move at all..not one mm.

These were developed at IWC's homolgation lab many years ago, and are now used in various forms in other companies.

 

This test is done only at iWC where they are so concerned that the watch arrives at the AD "healthy". The pressure is measured to see how much it can take before the box gives in to the weight.

 

 

Even extremes of temperatures and humidity are tested for spare parts transportation.

The attention for details are impressive.

 

 

More tests are done on different transport systems and compared..different degrees of stress...

 

The straps are tested as they are delivered from the contractors.

 

Note the extreme weights also tests the tiny rods at the lugs.

More next week...hope this helps you enjoy your IWC!

This message has been edited by MTF on 2008-01-27 09:49:53

Hi Dr,

thank you again on IWC handling,transporting the watch before reaching our hand.ery thoughfull of them and very thoughfull of you putting up the post to share it with us.

Nice day!

BHK9

evolving into a strong platform of "engineered for practicality", trying to make mechainical watches as reliable as possible. Quartz watches did not need, or at least was not percieved to need so much shock protection.

These plastic cases are also buffers against moisture and a certain amount of  temperature differences, which are useful for transportation of many things.

No message body

with regards to this:

"The plastic carriers have a internal air filled bag on both halves, and a membrane sandwiches the watch, not allowing it to move at all..not one mm."

I'm hardly an expert, but it would seem to me that it would actually be preferable to allow a watch to move slightly within that sort of environment, so that if the larger container were to receive a shock, there would be some 'play' which would mitigate against the full impact of the shock being transferred to the watch. By way of analogy, it is, of course, preferable for a human body to be relaxed on impact related to hard fall, as opposed to tense and rigid.

Can anyone with expertise in this area explain why my view is incorrect?

Regards,

Tony C.

and will likely absorb impact energy exerted on the box by flexing inside the box - the watch then would not move relative to the membrane but together with it relative to the box.

any others with thoughts on the issue?

Ciao, Dirk

to transport balances. Here is a Minerva (uops, sorry, I should say Montblanc by now...!) balance in such a container (well, you only see some reflections of the membranes):

 

The balance, or in this case watch, can move very little in its membrane compartment, but shocks are effectively damped.

Thanks Bernard for this report.

Best,
Magnus
This message has been edited by MTF on 2008-01-27 09:46:48

I see them being used all over.
Even in the supermarkets to package exotic fruit so it doesn't get bruised !

Don

 

 

companies that don't bother using them.

I have seen it in wine, fruit, and some of my medical scopes. BUT...on the other hand, I have on more occasions..not seen it being used.

Whatever, IWC did bother to test and also develop the package with better temp and shock tolerances...and they did comparisons with several different suppliers. In many instances, we see companies accepting whatever is "supplied"..but the post was to illustrate how much dedication the homologation team at IWC put into their work. Testing not only parts, but metals as well as the containers that they arrive in.

I just bought a Morrison Digital Trumpet, and also a Canon 200mm L F 1.8, a huge lens..and these are shipped with foam in aluminium cases,  these cases are still not widely used as yet

Feels like being in the homologation lab.

Ciao, Dirk

Sure is resassuring to know that my IWCs will last for some time...even the straps

 

cheers

joe

 

how much testing goes to ensure that the watches arrive safely at the ADs. Thanks for sharing these behind the scenes photos on how IWC is continuing the development to make transport of fine timepeices safer.