IWC Portugieser Hand-Wound Tourbillon Day & Night

At Watches and Wonders Geneva 2024, IWC unveiled the new Portugieser Hand-Wound Tourbillon Day & Night IW545901, along with the Portugieser Eternal Calendar and an updated Portugieser Automatic 42, enhancing their renowned Portugieser collection. Known for its haute horlogerie models, the Portugieser line distinguishes itself with large, legible dials and a classic aesthetic. The latest model adds a unique touch with a novel globe-shaped night and day indicator. This addition to the collection builds on the introduction of the simpler Hand-Wound Tourbillon in 2021, which was noted for its straightforward design amidst more complex predecessors.The 42.4mm case with a thickness of 10.8mm is crafted from 18k Armor Gold, polished and brushed for an elegant appearance. This proprietary Armor gold alloy is noted for its significantly greater hardness and wear resistance compared to conventional 5N gold.On the flipside, the watch features a sapphire exhibition caseback that provides a view into the inner workings of the mechanical movement. This movement features a partly skeletonized gold-plated base plate that provides a clear view of the barrel and other internal components, elaborately finished with circular Geneva stripes. Since the movement is hand-wound and lacks a rotor, the small globe is also visible from the reverse side.It comes equipped with gold-plated hands and gold appliques on an Obsidian lacquered dial, combining luxury with legibility. All topped by a sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective coating. Water-resistance can reach up to 60 meters (200 feet).Time is exhibited on an Obsidian lacquered dial, which is adorned with gold-plated Arabic numerals and a gilt printed minute track, creating an elegant and striking visual contrast. The dial includes a one-minute flying tourbillon located within a golden-framed aperture at 6 o’clock, which reveals the meticulously crafted balance wheel and pallet lever. This tourbillon setup helps reduce the influence of gravity on the watch's oscillating system, enhancing its accuracy.At 9 o'clock, the dial features an innovative 24-hour day and night display. This display includes a graphic, three-dimensional rotating sphere that depicts the cycle of day and night. The sphere rotates around its axis once every 24 hours, providing a vivid and artistic representation of time passing. This modern adaptation of the historic regulator is a standout feature, showcasing IWC's commitment to combining traditional watchmaking with contemporary design.The visual elegance of the dial is further accentuated by the slim, gold-plated leaf-shaped hour and minute hands, which move gracefully over the timekeeping elements. These hands, along with the other appliques, underscore the Portugieser’s timeless aesthetic while ensuring excellent legibility.

IWC Portugieser Hand-Wound Tourbillon Day & Night

The “IWC Portugieser Hand-Wound Tourbillon Day & Night” (Ref#: IW545901) is powered by the in-house hand-wound mechanical movement, caliber 81925, with 22 jewels and 28,800 Vph. It comes equipped with silicon components like the pallet lever and escape wheel, enhanced with Diamond Shell coating technology to reduce friction and improve energy flow. Power reserve can last up to 84 hours when fully wound.Mounted on the watch is a finely crafted curved black alligator scaled leather strap from Santoni with tone-on-tone stitching, secured to the wrist by an 18k Armor gold folding clasp. For more up to date information visit the official IWC Schaffhausen website here.

 

IWC Schaffhausen, IWC, Portugieser, Hand-Wound, Tourbillon, Watches & Wonders, Luxury Watches