IWC  Jubilee Collection  Watches

IWC Jubilee Collection: Most Coveted Limited-Edition Watches 

Pioneered in 1886, IWC has made a name in the watch industry for its sophisticated timepieces that have been adored by men and women for more than a century. In 2018, the brand introduced the Jubilee Collection to celebrate their 150 years of service to the public. With the classic models in mind, they reinvented these timepieces to create more modern yet still refined watches. Under this special collection are limited-edition models from the following collections: the IWC Tribute to Pallweber, IWC Da Vinci, IWC Portugieser, IWC Portofino, and IWC Pilot. The colors revolve around gold, silver, white, and blue with black leather straps that can be replaced with other colors. While most have classic and sleek cases and lugs, there are also bejeweled watches with 206 pure white diamonds which would add up to 2.26 carats. Add to that a pocket watch with a digital hours and minutes display, then you have a collection with a mix of vintage and modern. Moreover, at the back of the watches is a “150 YEARS” inscription to indicate that it is a part of the Jubilee Collection. Due to what they represent, IWC limited the production of these watches, making them special and rare timepieces. 

Prices at a Glance: Most Popular IWC Jubilee Watches

How much is an IWC Jubilee watch?

Prices for the IWC Jubilee Tribute to Pallweber Edition

The IWC Jubilee Tribute to Pallweber Edition '150 Years' line, as the name suggests, is a series in honor of Josef Pallweber. He was an Australian engineer and watchmaker who invented the jumping hours and minutes functions. In 1883, he patented his invention and gave IWC, along with other Swiss brands, the license to the design. IWC Pallweber pocket watches were a big hit in 1885 until they died down around 1887. In modern times, the brand relaunched its famous Pallweber pocket watch in the form of a wristwatch. The size of the timepieces is reminiscent of its predecessor since it is relatively large measuring at 45mm. On the other hand, the brand still produced a pocket watch to further pay homage to the original Pallweber watch. All of the timepieces in this line make use of the Digital Pallweber Display that has three rotating discs for the jumping hours and minutes function that are presented using large numbers.

The IWC Jubilee Tribute to Pallweber Edition '150 Years' Ref. IW505101 is the pocketwatch version of the line. Similar in size to the original, it has a 52mm, 18K 5N gold case with a white dial. Located at 12 o’clock is a circular window for the hours, on the middle is another window for the minutes, and at 6 o’clock is a seconds subdial. The textured cover has two windows that will allow you to read the time without opening the pocket watch itself. In addition, it has a large crown comparable to vintage pocket watches. This is only limited to 50 pieces and is priced at $66,500 USD.

Its wristwatch counterpart has a similar dial arrangement but is available in blue and white dials. The stainless steel with a blue dial is $23,100 USD, the 18K 5N gold with a white dial is $36,600 USD, and the platinum with a white dial is $57,800 USD.

Prices for the IWC Jubilee Portugieser Edition

For the first time, IWC combined a tourbillon, with integrated constant-force mechanism, with a perpetual single moon phase display. There are two styles for the IWC Jubilee Portugieser Constant-Force Tourbillon Edition "150 Years" timepieces: a platinum case with a white dial and a platinum case with a blue dial, both featuring Arabic numerals. At 1 o’clock is a moon display, and in the middle of 4 and 5 o’clock is the 96-hour power reserve indicator. In addition to that is the industrial looking tourbillon at 9 o’clock. And did we mention that these are so accurate that they only need to be corrected just once every 577.5 years? These watches measure 46mm and are priced at $249,000 USD with just 15 pieces made.

If finding the latter line is too hard considering its availability, you can try your luck with the IWC Jubilee Portugieser Chronograph Edition "150 Years". This line has 2,000 pieces. Since it is a chronograph, you will find a subdial at 12 o’clock indicating the minutes and at 6 o’clock indicating the seconds. Located at 2 and 4 o’clock are two chronograph pushers that add a subtle sporty look. These 41mm watches have a 46-hour power reserve and are priced at $7,150 USD for the stainless steel and $17,300 for the 18K 5N gold version. 

Prices for the IWC Jubilee Portofino Edition

The IWC Jubilee Portofino Hand-Wound Moon Phase Edition “150 Years” boasts a combination of an 8-day power reserve that has an indicator at 9 o’clock and a moon phase display at 12 o’clock. Along with those two is a date display at 3 o’clock and a seconds subdial at 6 o’clock. The 45mm watches are available in a stainless steel case with either a blue or white dial and an 18K 5N gold case with a blue dial. Their indexes are marked with slim, minimalist lines. Stainless steel timepieces are priced at $13,400 USD with 350 pieces each, while the gold version costs around $23,600 USD and is only limited to 150 pieces.

Moving on to the IWC Jubilee Portofino Chronograph Edition "150 Years", it only has two designs. Both have a stainless steel case but differ in dials with one having a blue color while the other one is white. To add, the white dial has blue central hands and subdial hands that look chic against the white background. Looking at the 3 o’clock mark, you will see a day and date display in two separate windows for an added aesthetic. Now, let us go through its three subdials: at 6 o’clock is a 12-hour counter, at 12 o’clock is a 30-minute counter, and at 9 o’clock is a seconds counter. On the right side of the case are two chronograph pushers similar to the Portugieser Chronograph Edition "150 Years". These watches with a 44-hour power reserve cost $5,800 USD.

Prices for the IWC Jubilee Da Vinci Edition

Immediately starting off the Da Vinci line with something fancy and flashy, we have the IWC Jubilee Da Vinci Automatic Moon Phase 36 Edition "150 Years". It comes in 18K white gold and 18K 5N gold cases, both boasting 206 pure white diamonds on their cases and lugs that would each add up to 2.26 carats. Each 36mm timepiece has a 42-hour power reserve, a white dial marked with Arabic numbers,and a moon phase display at 12 o’clock. The white gold has a blue and silver toned moon display while the gold one has a blue and gold display. Looking at the crown, it is uniquely shaped like a small hill, a subtle yet beautiful added detail. The white gold will cost you $30,800 USD, while the 18K 5N gold is priced at $29,900 USD. Both are limited to just 50 pieces.

A simpler option would be the Da Vinci Automatic Edition "150 Years". Available in three designs, this line has simple timepieces that look luxe and timeless. Similar with the bedazzled design earlier, it has Arabic numerals on its dial but instead of a moon display, it has a seconds subdial at 6 o’clock. It has a longer power reserve as well for around 60 hours. Limited to 50 pieces each, the 18K 5N gold case with a white dial costs $18,200 USD and the stainless steel, regardless whether it has a blue or white dial, is priced at $9,500 USD.

Prices for the IWC Jubilee Pilot Edition

The IWC Jubilee Big Pilot Annual Calendar Edition "150 Years" is a practical timepiece to have. You do not have to check your phone every time you need the month, date, and day since it is already displayed on the 12 o’clock mark of the watch. Each has their own window for easier reading and the three are lined up in a slightly curved position. Looking at its blue dial with luminescence, at the 9 o’clock mark you will see a 60-second counter, and at the 3 o’clock mark is the 7-day counter for its 7-day power reserve. In addition, while most have a water resistance of 30m, this one has 60m. Furthermore, It is quite a large watch measuring 46.2mm but remains sleek and classy. You can get this for $19,700 USD. This is limited to just 150 pieces.

A more affordable version would be the IWC Jubilee Big Pilot Big Date Edition "150 Years". It has features similar to the Annual Calendar Edition like a power reserve display and a 60-second counter. The difference is that instead of a month, date, and day display, this one only shows the date. Being the only feature at the 12 o’clock mark, the date is presented in large numbers. Also, the 8-day power reserve indicator is placed at the back of the timepiece instead of on its blue or white dial. Limited to 150 pieces for each color, both the 46.2mm watches with stainless steel cases are priced at $13,800 USD.

Are the IWC Jubilee Collection watches good to buy for investment?

The IWC Jubilee Collection is composed of the limited-editions of four other collections of IWC and one tribute edition in honor of Josef Pallweber. Since the number of the timepieces are restricted, it makes them rare and definitely noteworthy to any watch aficionado’s collection. In addition, the more exclusive the watch is, the higher the price is. The good thing is, if ever you plan on selling it, you will surely earn a huge sum of money from it, making it a great investment. Case in point: the IWC Jubilee Portugieser Constant-Force Tourbillon Edition "150 Years" which is limited to just 15 pieces. 

History Behind the IWC Jubilee Collection

The Jubilee Collection was released just this 2018, so it is a relatively new collection from the Swiss watch brand. The designs are based on the collections where the watches came from, which are the IWC Da Vinci, IWC Portugieser, IWC Portofino, and IWC Pilot. Meanwhile, the Tribute to Pallweber was inspired by the first jumping hours pocket watch of IWC. What is common among the watches in the Jubilee Collection are the white and blue dials with black leather straps. Add to that the “150 YEARS” indication at the back. The wristwatches paint an image of how IWC has been creating luxurious and sophisticated timepieces all these years.

5 Reasons to Buy a IWC Jubilee Collection Watch

Here are the reasons why you should consider investing on a Jubilee timepiece:

1. The value it holds due to the reason the IWC Jubilee Collection was created

2. Exclusivity because of the rarity

3. Promising return of investment if you ever resell it 

4. The reputation of IWC speaks for itself, so you are sure that you are getting not only visually pleasing timepieces but also high-quality, functional, and reliable ones

5. Elegant, perfect dress watches

IWC Jubilee Collection: A Testament to IWC’s Rich Watchmaking Heritage

The combination of the well thought of designs, technology, meaning, and rarity of the timepieces in the Jubilee Collection make them truly desirable. The fact that only a handful of people in the entire world have the luxury to wear such grand and significant timepieces on their wrists is remarkable. Wear an IWC Jubilee watch to your next formal occasion and it will make a great conversation starter and an eye-catching addition to your outfit.