Since 1868, IWC Schaffhausen has offered its clients avant-garde engineering and exclusive designs true to the values of fine watchmaking. Their watches present the complexities of watchmaking at its best. A few days ago, the Schaffhausen based watchmaker, dropped two sensational timepieces as part of their Portugieser Line – The Portugieser Perpetual Calendar (ref. IW503406); the first watch in the current Portugieser Collection to have a perpetual calendar and a platinum case and the new Portugieser Automatic in a stainless steel case with a silver-plated dial and rhodium-plated hands.
Portugieser Perpetual Calendar with Double Moon Display in Platinum
Corrosion-resistant, hypoallergenic, highly dense and extremely robust and durable. That’s Platinum for you; and IWC’s choice of material for their latest Portugieser Perpetual Calendar. The gleaming whitegrey platinum case perfectly matches the silver-plated dial, as well as the rhodium-plated hands and appliques. The case houses the IWC 52615 manufacture calibre. The Pellaton winding is fitted with ceramic components that are practically wear-free, and builds up a power reserve of seven days with its oscillating weight made from solid 18 carat red gold. The highly embellished movement is visible through a see-through sapphire glass back. Developed by Kurt Klaus in the 1980s, the mechanism consists of around 80 parts and displays the date, day, month and moon phase, as well as the year in four digits. It can be easily adjusted using the crown. The mechanism identifies different month lengths and leap years automatically and will work until 2100 without needing any correction. This version of the calendar comes with a double moon display that gives an inverted view of the moon phases for both the northern and southern hemispheres. Thanks to a special reduction gear, the display is so accurate that it will only deviate from the actual orbit of the earth’s satellite after 577.5 years, and then only by one day.
Portugieser Automatic
Flawless! Absolutely Flawless! IWC’s Portugieser Automatic has been a collector’s favourite for years now; all thanks to its minimalist design and simplistic style.
The new Portugieser Automatic (ref. IW500712) features a beautiful silver-plated dial with rhodium plated hands and raised Arabic numerals. At 9 o clock and 3 o clock you have a seconds display and power reserve indicator respectively. These replace the indexes . The date window at the 6 o’clock index position is discrete, at the same time is harmonious with the overall watch design. The railway track style chapter ring adds to the classic and timeless IWC design.
The Portugieser’s Calibre 52010 has a Pellaton winding with ceramic components for unmatched accuracy. The oscillating weight is fitted with an 18 carat gold medallion and builds up a power reserve of seven days. The watch is worn on a black alligator leather strap.
