INTRODUCING: The IWC Portugieser Hand-Wound Tourbillon Day & Night
The International Watch Company (IWC) has long been a watchmaker that prides itself on being an industry leader when it comes to combining function with aesthetically pleasing finishes and details. In the midst of their re-imagining of their classic Portugieser line of dress watches, IWC has stuck to the principle of making all their complicated pieces equally gorgeous to look at, and this new release is no exception. Hardcore watch enthusiasts might be quick to point out that a tourbillon actually doesn’t have a ton of practical use on a wristwatch, given that they are inherently more mobile and impacted less by gravity than pocketwatches - but boy do they sure look fantastic! IWC makes some truly special tourbillon models, with meticulous detail in every millimeter - and their craftsmanship is right at home in the new Portugieser Hand Wound Tourbillon Day & Night.
THE BASICS:
BRAND: IWC Schaffhausen
Model: Portugieser Hand-Wound Tourbillon Day & Night
Case Material: 18-Carat Armor Gold
Case Size: 42mm
Water Resistance: 6 Bar
Movement: Calibre 81925
Movement Specs: Hand-Wound, 84-hour power reserve, 4hz movement frequency, flying tourbillon
Strap Options: Alligator leather by Santoni
THE JUICE:
For Watches & Wonders 2024, IWC has redesigned their historical line of dress watches. Initially conceived over 80 years ago, the IWC Portugieser has been a staple collection of dependable, legible dress watches with incredible wrist presence. This line has seen a number of iterations and complications over its life. Its newest version features a lovely combination of complications, a flying tourbillion at six o’clock, and a 24-hour indicator at nine o’clock. The Portugieser case got an update for this new iteration introduced at Watches & Wonders 2024, but this one in particular is very special. It is crafted out of 18-Carat Armor Gold with hour markers and hands to match. Thanks to an improved microstructure, Armor Gold has significantly bolstered wear resistance and durability when compared to its counterparts elsewhere. The contrast created with the Obsidian black dial is really eye-catching. The dial itself has undergone intense polishing to create a quasi-reflective property that give it incredible depth.
The Flying Tourbillion at six o’clock is truly the star of this watch. The mechanical complexity of this complication makes it prohibitively difficult to produce. In fact, only the most senior and experienced watchmakers in Schaffhausen are allowed to take part in their production. Completing a rotation once every sixty seconds, the mechanism also acts as a de facto running seconds counter.
The Portugieser line from IWC has always been one where they have blended beauty and function into seamless packages, and this is no exception. This newest iteration of the Portugieser keeps with their tradition of elegant dress watches with haute horology complications, and I hope we continue to see this trajectory from the Portugieser line into the future.
So how much is the Portugieser Hand-Wound Tourbillon Day & Night Watch?
Price for this watch will come in at $79,300 USD.
Read more about the watch on the brands website here.