IWC updates a single line of watches every year. This year it’s the turn of the Portugieser. Created in the late 1930s for two businessmen from Portugal – hence its name – was a hunter pocket watch. Inspiration for the clean, open, highly functional dial came from the deck watches IWC was producing for the British Royal Navy at the time. From the outset, the Portugieser had the typical stylistic features of a pocket watch, coupled with the high precision and easy readability of a nautical instrument. IWC digitally unwrapped a total of 30 variants of the Portugieser.
Portugieser Automatic 40
This popular model gets a downgrade in diameter from 42 to 40 in four references – three in Stainless steel (Ref. 358303, 358304, and 358305), and one (358306) in 18-carat 5N gold with a silver-plated dial, gold-plated hands and 18-carat gold appliques. All four models feature a small seconds hand at 6 o’clock and have IWC-manufactured 82200 calibre with Pellaton winding.
Portugieser Perpetual Calendar 42
The perpetual calendar has been integrated for the first time with an in-house movement from the 82000-calibre family; the 82650 to be precise. IWC has launched three variants of this model. One is in Stainless steel (344203) with a silver-plated dial and gold-plated hands and appliques. Two are in 18-carat gold cases with gold-plated hands and appliques. Of these, 344202 has a silver-plated dial while 344205 has a blue dial.
Portugieser Perpetual Calendar 44 “Boutique Edition”
In the 44mm case, the calendar information is displayed on four subdials: date, day, month and moon phase. It also has a four-digit year display, small seconds and a power reserve display. This year, IWC unveiled a Boutique Edition of the model in 18-carat Armor Gold, a blue diallue dial, gold-plated hands, 18-carat gold appliques, and blue alligator leather strap by Santoni. Its 52610 calibre offers a power reserve of seven days.
Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide
Ref. 344001 is the first watch from IWC to feature the newly developed tide indication. A subdial at 6 o’clock indicates the expected times for the next high and low tide. The double moon phase, display at 12 o’clock, has been enhanced to show spring and neap tides. The case is 18-carat 5N gold, with blue dial, gold-plated hands, 18-carat gold appliques, and blue rubber strap with textile inlay. The 82835 calibre offers a power reserve of 60 hours.
Portugieser Yacht Club Chronograph
The three new models come in a 44 mm stainless steel case, with ergonomically designed metal bracelets. Ref. 390701 has a blue dial, rhodium-plated hands and appliques, and a stainless-steel bracelet. Ref. 390702 has a silver-plated dial, blue hands and appliques, and a stainless-steel bracelet. Ref. 390703 has a silver-plated dial, gold-plated hands, 18-carat gold appliques, and 18-carat gold and a stainless-steel bracelet.
Portugieser Chronograph
IWC presented three new versions of the Portugieser Chronograph. Two of the new models are in stainless-steel with rhodium-plated hands and appliques, and black alligator leather strap. Of these, 371615 has a burgundy dial, while 371616 has a green one. The third model is a boutique edition in 18-carat gold case and a blue dial. All three are powered by the IWC-manufactured 69355 calibre and feature a see-through sapphire-glass back.
Portugieser Tourbillon
On the haute horology front, IWC released two Tourbillon models, both in platinum with a silver-plated dial and blue alligator leather strap by Santoni. The Rétrograde Chronograph (394006), with a 43.5mm case, combines a tourbillon with a retrograde date display (at 9:00) and chronograph. The Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon (504505), with a 45mm case, brings together a tourbillon and perpetual calendar. Both have Boutique Editions with an 18-carat Armor Gold, blue dials, and blue alligator leather straps.
