It’s everything you would ever expect from IWC – timeless, elegant and reliable; a watch that never goes out of style! The Portofino collection from IWC was first introduced in the early 80’s and ever since has become a collectors favourite. The simple, laid back yet straight forward design gives the collection a very distinct appeal. It’s definitely not everyone’s cup of tea but those who like it, treasure it.
This year the collection gets two gifts. The gift of complications. A tourbillon joins the collection for the very first time and as another first, IWC is also launching the classic Portofino Hand-Wound Eight Days with a moonphase display.
IWC Portofino Hand-Wound Tourbillon Rétrograde (Ref. IW516501)
Presented in a 45mm case made of 18ct red gold, this is the first Portofino to feature a tourbillon with the balance, pallet and escape wheel mounted in a cage that rotates around its own axis once every minute. The rotation helps to counteract the pull of gravity so that it does not affect the watch’s rate and accuracy. The newly developed hacking tourbillon enables the watch to be set with down-to-the-second accuracy. IWC has also made structural changes to the pallet and the escape wheel using diamond-coated silicon, thereby reducing friction. This contributes substantially to an eight day power reserve achieved with IWC’s hand-wound 59900 calibre.
IWC Portofino Hand-Wound Tourbillon Rétrograde (Ref. IW516501)
The dial itself is silver-plated and features a retrograde display, a power reserve display and a flying hacking minute tourbillon at 6 o clock. The appliqués are made of solid gold. The sapphire-glass back provides a view of the calibre, which is adorned with Geneva stripes.
Portofino Hand-Wound Moon Phase (Ref. 5164)
The new Portofino Hand-Wound Moon Phase (Ref. 5164) is a tribute to IWC’s Reference 5251 from 1984. For the very first time, the brand has integrated a moon phase display into their newest Portofino Hand-Wound Eight Days watch that only needs to be adjusted by one day after 122 years. This is all thanks to the enhancements made in IWC’s calibre 59000.
IWC Portofino Ref. 5251 1984
The watch is offered in two versions (both 45mm cases), one in an 18 ct rose gold case, a slate-coloured dial and solid gold appliqués (Ref. IW516403), and the other in a stainless-steel case, a silver-plated dial and gold-plated appliqués (Ref. IW516401). Both have gold plated hands and are fitted with a dark brown alligator leather strap by Santoni.
IWC Portofino Hand-Wound Moon Phase
In addition, IWC has also updated their Portofino Automatic Moon Phase 37 (Ref. 4590) which now comes in a silver-plated dial instead of a mother-of-pearl dial, creating a lot more diversity in the collection. Refer below for the complete line up:
IWC Portofino Automatic Moon Phase 37
From left to right: Milanaise mesh bracelet in 18-carat red gold adorned with 78 diamonds on the bezel (Ref. IW459010), stainless-steel case, gold-plated hands and 12 diamonds on the dial (Ref. IW459011), 18 carat red gold case with gold plated hands (Ref. IW459009), stainless-steel case, rhodium-plated hands (Ref. IW459008). Both Ref. IW459009 and IW459008 have 66 diamonds on the bezel and 12 on the dial. To complete the look, the latter 3 watches are fitted with exquisitely finished alligator leather straps by Santoni.