2020 is officially the ‘Year of the Portugieser’ for IWC. First introduced in 1939, the Portuguese (Or Portugieser) is today the brands’ most recognizable and bestselling timepiece ever produced. 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.
“The amazing thing about the Portugieser is that its face has hardly changed since then. The clear, functional design look just as fresh and contemporary today as it did over 80 years ago. The Portugieser thus embodies precisely the same, timeless modernity that distinguishes IWC as a brand. The new collection now makes our best-known watch family even more attractive and demonstrates how the iconic design continues to evolve,” explains Christoph Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen.
For 2020, IWC is presenting three new versions of its timeless Portugieser Chronograph – Ref. IW371615 featuring an adventurous yet very elegant green dial, stainless steel case, rhodium-plated hands and appliques and black alligator leather strap; Ref. IW371616 – featuring a burgundy dial, stainless steel case, rhodium-plated hands and appliques and black alligator leather strap; and finally Ref. IW371614 – a ’boutique edition’ with an 18-carat 5N gold case, blue dial, gold-plated hands, 18-carat gold appliques and blue alligator leather strap. Despite the different dial variants, the design is clean and has an organised look with all the elements integrated harmoniously: the recessed totalisers at 6 and 12 o clock, the appliqued Arabic numerals, the filigree bezel and the perfectly proportioned slim feuille hands.
With its 41mm case size, the Portugieser Chronograph is just the right size for any kind of wrist. The two stainless steel
models are equipped with a newly developed butterfly folding clasp, which is particularly comfortable to wear. Two chronograph pushers at 2 and 4 o clock facilitate easy handling of the chronograph functions. Finally, the 3 bar water resistance is also a good feature when you’re looking for a few added extras in a classic.
All three models are driven by the IWC-manufactured 69355 calibre ensuring precise display and measurement of time. The rugged, precision chronograph movement with the classic column-wheel design can be admired through the transparent sapphire glass back. An automatic pawl-winding system builds up a power reserve of 46 hours.
Recommended Retail Price
Ref. IW371615 – $11,500 Australian Dollars
Ref. IW371616 – $11,500 Australian Dollars
Ref. IW371614 ‘Boutique Edition’ – $24,500 Australian Dollars
