One of the most iconic watches ever created, the IWC (at the time International Watch Company) Portuguese was launched in 1939 with a number of dial versions.
Unveiled at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie 2015, the new IWC Portugieser Hand-Wound Eight Days 75th Anniversary Edition pays tribute to a version of the original Portugieser that until now has been fairly unknown. Fortunately, an original version of this model had remained in a private collection, and became a source of inspiration for IWC’s designers.
This historic piece features all the attributes which have defined the appearance of the Portugieser to this day: Arabic numerals, slim feuille hands, railway-track-style chapter ring and small seconds at 6 o’clock. However, the inner chapter ring, hour indices and Arabic numerals are aesthetically very prominent in gold brown with black edging.
IWC’s in-house 59215-calibre movement – beating at a frequency of 4 hertz, or 28,800 vibrations per hour – supplies the watch with energy for 8 days. Actually, it would be almost 9 days, were it not for an system that blocks the movement after the first 192 hours, or precisely 8 days. Through the transparent sapphire-glass back, it is possible to verify the remaining power reserve.
The red gold version with silver-plated dial has adopted the colour scheme and company logo of its forebear almost without change except for the new date display on the subdial at 6 o’clock. The stainless steel version of the Portuguese 75th Anniversary Edition features a matte black dial in contrast with light green elements.
The coved bezel, a typical design characteristic of the Portugieser line, and the arched-edge sapphire glass help to make the case appear less bulky despite its 12-millimetre height and 43-millimetre diameter.
The luxurious alligator leather straps, handcrafted by the Italian shoe manufacturer Santoni, are true masterpieces of craftsmanship and uniqueness, thanks to the nuanced shade of the leather, which makes each strap unique in its special patina-like shine with individual color tones.
The Portugieser Hand-Wound Eight Days 75th Anniversary Edition will be available in a limited edition of 175 watches in red gold (ref. IW510206) while the stainless-steel version (ref. IW510205) is limited to 750 watches.
The IWC Portuguese Hand-Wound Eight Days 75th Anniversary Edition is available at selected stores worldwide. Come into the beautiful and timeless world of IWC.
Yakymour Men 