IWC Museum
IWC Museum
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
About
IWC Museum A Journey Through History. Over 230 carefully selected items bear witness to a manufacturer that started making a name for itself with unusually reliable quality and unmistakable, universally appealing design from the very beginning. The collection starts with the legendary Jones calibres in American cases, the first pocket watches with a digital display, ornately decorated dress watches, ladies' watches encrusted with gemstones, and the very first IWC wristwatches. It charts the development of multifunctional timepieces such as the pilot's, deck, diver's and antimagnetic watches, culminating in a number of exquisite specialities and one of the most complicated wristwatches the world has ever seen: Il Destriero Scafusia, which was manufactured in a limited edition to mark the company's 125th anniversary. The retrospective is fittingly complemented by original documentation from IWC's own archives.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
59 reviews
Excellent
30
Very good
22
Average
6
Poor
0
Terrible
1
elramosjr
17 contributions
Sep 2019
The IWC Museum in Schaffhausen is a good stopover if you are a watch lover. The area is small but houses the history of the brand. The visit can be done in about an hour. There is a shop besides the museum if you want to buy or see some of their latest watches.
Written November 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
N0dell
Novato, CA191 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
An opportunity wasted. IWC could have given some history on why Jones from the USA came here to make watches. It could have explained carefully the problems in making accurate watches and the inventions that solved them. But no, IWC wants to show off its watch cases. Not worth a visit.
Written June 12, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
714walter
Wellington, New Zealand8 contributions
Jun 2017
Well worth a visit next to the Rhein, fantastic walking along the Rhein on either side. I know I served my apprentice ship in Schaffhausen and visit that area on a regular basis. This whole are is much more economical than Luzern / Interlacken. I have been there in September 2016, not 2017. Not much changes in that area. well worth a visit.
Written May 22, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matthew Z
Zurich, Switzerland24 contributions
May 2018 • Friends
I would agree with similar comments that it’s not entirely clear what the point of this “museum” is. My wife and I (expats in Switzerland) are trying to learn more about the Swiss watch industry. Some museums, like the phenomenal Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva, offer a wealth of history into the history and technology of this industry. The IWC Museum, on the other hand, is basically an elaborate piece of advertising for the brand. A certain amount of narcissism for an in-house exhibit is understandable, but to call this a “museum” is disingenuous. Even the exhibits designed to educate viewers are so saturated with laudatory statements about how amazing IWC, at the expense of explanations of the technology of the watch, that is that it’s difficult to see any educational value in it. Why call this a museum and charge CHF 6? Why not just have it be a cool feature of the Schaffhausen flagship store?
Beyond that, a few random things that made the visit weird. Prospective visitors should know that is tiny - TWO rooms of exhibits. They wouldn’t accept a credit card for admission which is bizarre seeing as it’s attached to their watch boutique (highly doubt people are buying $10k watches in cash) and the staff were not remotely friendly. We went into the on-site repair shop which is open to museum visitors to ask questions about watch parts. I asked some questions about watch movements. Admittedly they were probably entry level questions, but the two employees literally looked at each other, rolled their eyes, and snickered after I asked something. Condescending as can be. Again, they call this a “museum?”
I would say it’s highly missable, even for moderate watch enthusiasts. You would need to be an extreme IWC devotee to make a special trip here.
Beyond that, a few random things that made the visit weird. Prospective visitors should know that is tiny - TWO rooms of exhibits. They wouldn’t accept a credit card for admission which is bizarre seeing as it’s attached to their watch boutique (highly doubt people are buying $10k watches in cash) and the staff were not remotely friendly. We went into the on-site repair shop which is open to museum visitors to ask questions about watch parts. I asked some questions about watch movements. Admittedly they were probably entry level questions, but the two employees literally looked at each other, rolled their eyes, and snickered after I asked something. Condescending as can be. Again, they call this a “museum?”
I would say it’s highly missable, even for moderate watch enthusiasts. You would need to be an extreme IWC devotee to make a special trip here.
Written May 21, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RonTSmithers_B_C_
Smithers, Canada463 contributions
Jun 2017 • Solo
This very well presented museum is specific to IWC watches. It is not a general museum of timepieces. It would be of interest to someone wanting to buy an IWC watch or who has an IWC watch. It is a bit surprising that they charge admission for what is, in effect, a well presented piece of advertising.
Written June 28, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tomato_7070
Aberdeen, UK252 contributions
May 2017 • Solo
This IWC museum is a must visit place when u go to Schaffhausen. It was just a 15 -20 minutes walk from the main station and was easily founded by following the signs. U can also get a free map from the information centre if u really cannot find it. :) The admission fee for the museum is CHF 6 per person. Very friendly, helpful and professional staffs with passionate attitude and always willing to answer any questions about IWC. 😁👍🏻 Even u r not a fan of IWC, u will still be amazed by their fantastic ideas and mechanical works. They aimed to provide the best and worth watch for people, and they did it! U will see their hard work and persistence to strive for the best. Clear information by the audio guide and the details from the board successfully allowed me to gain deeper acquaintances towards IWC and watches. And respect to all mechanic workers as well 👏🏻👍🏻👍🏻 If u r a super fan, the unique IWC boutique is just directly located next to the museum, go to grab something u like or looking for from the boutique. A friendly reminder: just make sure u bring adequate money along with u haha 😂😂
Written June 16, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marco Ho
Hong Kong, China1,349 contributions
May 2017 • Friends
Even there are so many shop selling watches at swiss, you cannot find too much IWC watches at all. I think this is right place you must visit for IWC lover.
Written June 11, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sgec1105
Winterthur, Switzerland865 contributions
Apr 2017 • Couples
The museum is very well done, it gives a very good history of IWC watches and displays many fine examples of these watches. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to this museum. The museum is not very large and is more suited to adults than children.
Written April 30, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marc M
Elmhurst, IL43 contributions
Apr 2016 • Family
I followed along the displays by downloading the iphone app and listening to the information in English. I went with my 10 year old son and my father. Everyone enjoyed the displays to varying degrees. Not an incredible experience, but nice. Nice to visit the boutique at the end as well.
Written November 23, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hoai Thu Hofstetter
Thun, Switzerland66 contributions
Oct 2015 • Solo
I came here for the 1st time. The museum is a part from the main IWC building. The museum locates in 3 connected rooms downstairs. Upstairs is for offices.
Ticket was 5 franc or maybe 8 franc i am not remember exactly. The reception lady will walk and show you all the rooms. Then you get the access to the museum where display lots of valued hand watches and pocket watches. Very very nice design. All of them have interesting history. There is an automatic information board with all official Swiss languages, Chinese, Koreanisch and Arabisch in every room. You are not allowed to take photos or film records.
I spent about 20-30' to walk through all the 3 rooms.
I beleive IWC museum is a must-see attraction in Schaffhausen.
Ticket was 5 franc or maybe 8 franc i am not remember exactly. The reception lady will walk and show you all the rooms. Then you get the access to the museum where display lots of valued hand watches and pocket watches. Very very nice design. All of them have interesting history. There is an automatic information board with all official Swiss languages, Chinese, Koreanisch and Arabisch in every room. You are not allowed to take photos or film records.
I spent about 20-30' to walk through all the 3 rooms.
I beleive IWC museum is a must-see attraction in Schaffhausen.
Written July 22, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Claim your listingIWC MUSEUM: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about IWC Museum
- IWC Museum is open:
- Tue - Fri 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
- Sat - Sat 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
- Hotels near IWC Museum:
- (0.14 km) Hotel 2B
- (0.26 km) Hotel Kronenhof
- (0.24 km) Back-Packer Federnhut
- (0.50 km) Best Western Plus Hotel Bahnhof
- (0.43 km) Sorell Hotel Rueden
- Restaurants near IWC Museum:
- (0.05 km) Kammgarn Beiz
- (0.19 km) D'Chuchi
- (0.17 km) La Piazza
- (0.16 km) Cafe Reber
- (0.19 km) Gerberstube