IWC Tribute To Pallweber 150th Anniversary Digital Jump Hour Watch Overview
The IWC Tribute To Pallweber 150th Anniversary digital jump hour watch is one of the most remarkable releases of the 2018 SIHH. As a modern reinterpretation of the historic Pallweber pocket watch introduced by IWC in 1884, it brings the jumping digital time display into the world of contemporary horology. This edition preserves the pure layout of the original creation while enhancing it with refined finishing, a lacquered dial, and a newly developed movement.
Historical Background and Pallweber Origins
The IWC Tribute To Pallweber 150th Anniversary digital jump hour watch takes inspiration from the breakthrough invention by Josef Pallweber, an Austrian watchmaker who developed the first digital jumping hour pocket watch in 1883. His patented system used rotating discs instead of hands, creating one of the earliest digital displays in mechanical watchmaking. IWC licensed his invention and produced Pallweber pocket watches between 1885 and 1887. Their short production period and limited quantities turned them into rare collector’s items, treasured for their technical ingenuity.
Dial Layout and Display Architecture
Like the 1884 Pallweber pocket watch, the IWC Tribute To Pallweber 150th Anniversary digital jump hour watch features a digital hour display at 12 o’clock, a double-disc digital minute aperture in the center, and a small seconds display at 6 o’clock. The lacquered dial, with its high-gloss enamel-like finish, creates a smooth, translucent surface reminiscent of historical pocket watches. The typography of the numerals and the symmetry of the apertures further enhance its classical yet minimalistic charm.
Movement: IWC Caliber 94200
Powering the IWC Tribute To Pallweber 150th Anniversary digital jump hour watch is the manually wound IWC Caliber 94200. Operating at 28,800 vph and offering a 60-hour power reserve, the movement is engineered to deliver smooth and reliable energy for the demanding instantaneous jumps of both the minute and hour discs. A dedicated second gear train powers the digital display, ensuring precision and preventing any interruption of the timekeeping balance wheel. This unique mechanism makes the movement a technical highlight within IWC’s 150th Anniversary Jubilee Collection.
Case, Materials, and Limited Editions
The watch features a 45 mm case available in rose gold or stainless steel. The rose-gold edition pairs with a white lacquered dial and is limited to 250 pieces, while the stainless-steel version features a rich blue dial and is limited to 500 pieces. At 12 mm thick, the watch retains a balanced presence on the wrist while offering ample room for the large digital discs within. A domed sapphire crystal, blue seconds hand (on the white-dial version), and a black alligator strap complete the elegant profile.
For additional technical information about the Pallweber concept and digital displays in horology, visit
IWC Official Website.
IWC Tribute To Pallweber 150th Anniversary Digital Jump Hour Watch
Rose-gold case, 45 mm diameter, 12 mm thickness, sapphire crystal, lacquered dial, blue seconds hand, Caliber 94200 manual-winding movement, 50 jewels, 28,800 vph, 60-hour power reserve, black alligator strap, rose-gold buckle, 30 m water resistance.
