IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN OPENS POP-UP STORE AT AMSTERDAM AIRPORT SCHIPHOL
Amsterdam, March 2018 – IWC Schaffhausen opens a pop-up store at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. It is the first pop-up store in the world with a fully dedicated concept celebrating the brand’s 150th anniversary. Travelers passing through Europe’s third-busiest airport can now discover an exclusive selection of timepieces from IWC’s six iconic watch families: Portugieser, Pilot’s Watches, Portofino, Aquatimer, Ingenieur, and Da Vinci.
In 1868, the American watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones traveled to Schaffhausen, Switzerland, and founded the International Watch Company. His aim was to combine modern American manufacturing methods with skilled Swiss craftsmanship to create the best pocket watches of his time. “Our pop-up store at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is dedicated to the inspirational story of our founder, whose entrepreneurial spirit and tireless quest for engineering excellence have shaped IWC. It lets visitors travel back in time to the early days of our company and experience some of our most iconic timepieces in an open and welcoming atmosphere,” says Edwin de Vries, Brand Manager for IWC Schaffhausen Benelux & Scandinavia.
The IWC pop-up store is located in the non-Schengen part of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in Lounge 2. Across a total surface area of 139 square meters and spread over two floors, it features a library, a lounge area, and a bar where visitors can enjoy a refreshing drink, upon invitation. The pop-up store is operated in cooperation with Gassan, official IWC retail partner in the Netherlands.
TIMEPIECES FROM IWC’S SIX ICONIC PRODUCT FAMILIES
Visitors of the pop-up store at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol can discover an exclusive selection from IWC’s six product families: the iconic Pilot’s Watches, which bring the dream of flying to the wrist; the timelessly elegant Portugieser, which stands for sophistication and Haute Horlogerie; the refined and elegant Portofino, which epitomizes the laidback Italian lifestyle; the functional and sporty Aquatimer diver’s watches, which are reliable companions for adventures underwater and on land; the sporty and elegant Ingenieur, which draws inspiration from classic car races and vintage automobiles; or the beautiful Da Vinci, which combines the inventive spirit of IWC’s engineers with an extraordinary aesthetic.
GASSAN
Gassan Diamonds, part of the Gassan Group, is a traditional family-owned business located in an old steam diamond factory in the historic center of Amsterdam. The company is engaged in diamond grinding, wholesale and retail of loose and set diamonds, gold jewelry, and watches. Gassan Diamonds takes a progressive position in the diamond world, partly by introducing a new proprietary cut, the Gassan 121. In 1967, Gassan Schiphol started the first diamond counter at Schiphol Airport. Nowadays, Gassan Schiphol has 15 selling locations at airside and one at landside, making it one of the largest concessionaires of the Schiphol Group.
IWC Schaffhausen is the Engineer of Watchmaking. In 1868, the American watchmaker and engineer Florentine Ariosto Jones established the ‘International Watch Company’ in Schaffhausen in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. By combining the best of human craftsmanship and creativity with cutting-edge industrial technology and processes, he laid the foundation for IWC’s unique engineering approach to watchmaking.
IWC’s distinctive and pure design is brought to life through collections ranging from elegant dress watches to sports and luxury sports watches, notably the Portugieser, Portofino, Pilot’s Watches and Ingenieur. Over its more than 150-year history, IWC has earned a reputation for creating professional instrument watches and functional complications, especially chronographs and calendars, which are ingenious, robust and easy to use.
A pioneer in the use of titanium and ceramic, IWC specializes in performance materials such as Ceratanium®. IWC’s advanced engineering division XPL develops technologies that enhance the durability of mechanical watches and extend their applications to environments with extreme conditions such as jet aviation and human spaceflight.
IWC is a leader in luxury watchmaking, crafting timepieces built to last for generations and continuously improving every aspect of how it manufactures, distributes and services its watches responsibly. Empowering the next generation of engineers, the brand also partners with organizations that work globally to support children and young people. IWC. EngineeredTM.