IWC Schaffhausen presents two Portugieser models featuring Haute Horlogerie complications. The Portugieser Tourbillon Rétrograde Chronograph combines a tourbillon with a retrograde date display and chronograph, while the Portugieser Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon boasts a tourbillon and a perpetual calendar.
The tourbillon is one of watchmaking’s most fascinating achievements. Effectively, it involves the balance rotating around its axis in a cage. This not only provides a visual spectacle on the dial: the constant rotation also reduces the influence of gravity on the oscillating system and increases the watch’s accuracy.
The Portugieser Tourbillon Rétrograde Chronograph (Ref. 3940) combines a flying minute tourbillon at 6 o’clock with a retrograde date display at 9 o’clock and a flyback chronograph. The model is available in two versions, both limited to 50 watches. One is housed in an 18-carat Armor Gold® case with a blue dial featuring the maritime-inspired design cues of the Boutique Editions. Thanks to its improved microstructure, this innovative new material has considerably higher hardness values than traditional 5N gold alloys. A second version is available in platinum.
IWC Portugieser Tourbillon Rétrograde Chronograph Ref. IW394005 Boutique Edition:
18-carat Armor Gold® case, blue dial, gold-plated hands, 18-carat gold appliques, blue alligator leather strap by Santoni.
IWC Portugieser Tourbillon Rétrograde Chronograph Ref. IW394006:
Platinum case, silver-plated dial, rhodium-plated hands and appliques, blue alligator leather strap by Santoni.
The IWC-manufactured 89900 calibre is self-winding and builds up a power reserve of 68 hours. The chronograph displays stopped hours and minutes in a single totaliser at 12 o’clock. Thanks to its hacking tourbillon, the watch can be stopped completely, allowing the time to be set with down-to-the-second accuracy. The pallet lever and escape wheel are treated with Diamond Shell® technology, giving it an extremely hard surface that reduces friction and improves the flow of energy in the movement.
The Portugieser Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon (Ref. 5045) brings together the two complications that give the watch its name. Two References are available, both limited to 50 each. One will be available as a Boutique Edition with an 18-carat Armor Gold® case, while the second will be available in platinum.
IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Ref. IW504504 Boutique Edition:
18-carat Armor Gold® case, blue dial, gold-plated hands, 18-carat gold appliques, blue alligator leather strap by Santoni.
IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Ref. IW504505:
Platinum case, silver-plated dial, rhodium-plated hands and appliques, blue alligator leather strap by Santoni.
The IWC-manufactured 51950 calibre combines a perpetual calendar with a tourbillon that has 82 individual parts and weighs only 0.635 grams. To make it visible at 12 o’clock, the calendar module’s advance ring was opened, and the moon phase integrated into the month display at 6 o’clock. With its 18-carat gold rotor, the automatic winding system builds up a large, seven-day power reserve. The perpetual calendar’s mechanical programme automatically recognises the different lengths of the months and adds an extra day at the end of February every four years. The moon phase display is so precise that it will need adjusting by one day after 577.5 years.
IWC Portugieser Haute Horlogerie Complications Technical Specifications
Portugieser Tourbillon Rétrograde Chronograph (Ref. 3940)
FEATURES
- Mechanical chronograph movement
- flying hacking minute tourbillon at 6 o‘clock
- retrograde date display
- stopwatch function with hours, minutes and seconds
- hour and minute counter combined in a totaliser at 12 o‘clock
- flyback function
- 18-carat gold oscillating weight
- limited to 50 watches
MOVEMENT
- IWC manufacture calibre 89900
- Frequency 28,800 vph/4 Hz
- Jewels 42
- Power reserve 68 h
- Winding Automatic
WATCH
- Materials
- Ref. IW394005: 18-carat Armor Gold® case, blue dial, gold-plated hands, 18-carat gold appliques, 18-carat gold oscillating weight, blue alligator leather strap by Santoni
- Ref. IW394006: Platinum case, silver-plated dial, rhodium-plated hands and appliques, 18-carat gold oscillating weight, blue alligator leather strap by Santoni
- Glass Sapphire, arched edge, antireflective coating on both sides
- Water-resistant 3 bar
- Diameter 43.5 mm
- Height 16 mm
Portugieser Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon (Ref. 5045)
FEATURES
- Mechanical movement
- perpetual calendar with displays for the day, date, month, year in four digits and perpetual moon phase
- flying minute tourbillon at 12 o‘clock
- power reserve display
- 18-carat gold oscillating weight
- see-through sapphire-glass back
- limited to 50 watches
MOVEMENT
- IWC manufacture calibre 51950
- Frequency 19,800 vph/2.75 Hz
- Jewels 54
- Power reserve 7 days (168 h)
- Winding Automatic
WATCH
- Materials:
- Ref. IW504504: 18-carat Armor Gold® case, blue dial, gold-plated hands, 18-carat gold appliques, 18-carat gold oscillating weight, blue alligator leather strap by Santoni
- Ref. IW504505: Platinum case, silver-plated dial, rhodium-plated hands and appliques, 18-carat gold oscillating weight, blue alligator leather strap by Santoni
- Glass Sapphire, arched edge, antireflective coating on both sides
- Water-resistant 3 bar
- Diameter 45 mm
- Height 15.3 mm
