IWC Portugieser Automatic 42 IW501704

The origins of the Portugieser date back to the late 1930s, when IWC Schaffhausen used a high-precision pocket watch movement to create a distinctively large wristwatch with chronometer precision. Although its simple case shape and purist, easy-to-read dial were created more than 80 years ago, it can hardly be linked to that specific period. The Portugieser remains timeless and has retained its freshness to this day. Clean and open dials with applied Arabic numerals, Feuille-type hands and the characteristic minutes scale reminiscent of railway tracks ensure perfect legibility.

IWC Schaffhausen has now refined its timelessly elegant Portugieser watches on every level and presents a new collection of the Portugieser Automatic 42 and the Portugieser Automatic 40. All watches feature a carefully reworked case construction with a slender side profile, making them visually light and more elegant. The double box-glass sapphire crystals offer an even better view of the new dials and the IWC-manufactured movements inside.

The dials are the result of an elaborate and highly complex process. The brass bases are either treated with a sunburst finish or given a finely blasted surface before the colour is applied. The key to their unusually pronounced optical depth is the application of 15 layers of lacquer, which is fine-ground and then polished to a high gloss finish. The subdials are milled into both the brass base and the lacquer layer. The three-dimensional effect is further emphasised by the printing, which is carried out in a special procedure and adds to the sensation of depth. To finish, the appliques are individually hand mounted. Finally, the dial graphics have also been carefully reworked for a perfect balance of lightness, elegance and legibility.

The Portugieser Automatic is distinguished by its balanced dial design with the power reserve indicator at 3 o’clock and the small seconds at 9 o’clock. With the new Portugieser Automatic 42 (Ref. IW5017), IWC Schaffhausen now launches a timeless and modern instrument dress watch, which fully retains the DNA of the original Portugieser Automatic (Ref. IW50001) from the year 2000.

– 18-carat white gold case, Horizon Blue dial, rhodium- plated hands and appliques, gradient blue calfskin strap from Santoni with 18-carat white gold folding clasp (Ref. IW501708)

– 18-carat 5N gold case, Obsidian black dial, gold- plated hands and gold appliques, black alligator leather strap from Santoni with 18-carat 5N gold folding clasp (Ref. IW501707)

– Stainless steel case, Dune dial, gold-plated hands and gold appliques, black alligator leather strap with stainless steel folding clasp (Ref. IW501705)

– Stainless steel case, Silver Moon dial, gold-plated hands and appliques, black alligator leather strap with stainless steel folding clasp (Ref. IW501701)

– Stainless steel case, Silver Moon dial, blue hands and appliques, gradient blue alligator leather strap with stainless steel folding clasp (Ref. IW501702)

– Stainless steel case, blue dial, rhodium-plated hands and appliques, stainless steel bracelet (Ref. IW501704)

The new models are powered by the IWC-manufactured 52011 calibre. The escapement has been improved to offer better protection against magnetic fields. The Pellaton winding system is reinforced with virtually wear- free zirconium oxide ceramic components and builds up a power reserve of seven days (168 hours) in two barrels.

First introduced to the collection in 2020, the Portugieser Automatic 40 (Ref. IW3584) presents the essence of the Portugieser design with a more compact case size of 40 millimetres. Standing in direct lineage to the first Portugieser, Reference 325 from 1939, it features a clean and open dial with the small seconds at 6 o’clock and no date window.

– 18-carat white gold case, Horizon Blue dial, rhodium- plated hands and appliques, gradient light-blue calfskin strap from Santoni with 18-carat white gold pin buckle (Ref. IW358402)

– 18-carat 5N gold case, Obsidian black dial, gold-plated hands and gold appliques, black alligator leather strap from Santoni with 18-carat 5N gold pin buckle (Ref. IW358401)

Both models are powered by the IWC-manufactured 82200 calibre. Featuring parts made of zirconium oxide ceramic, the automatic Pellaton winding system builds up a power reserve of 60 hours in the mainspring.