IWC Portugieser

Why we chose it:

The only historic Haute Horlogerie Maison from the German-speaking region of Switzerland, IWC holds a special place in the hearts of enthusiasts for the versatility and precision of its designs.

Portugieser

The Portugieser is one of IWC’s oldest and most iconic timepieces. No other IWC timepiece family encompasses so many technical masterpieces of Haute Horlogerie. The legendary design of the Portugieser collection, with its generous dimensions, large dials, understated Arabic numerals, slim sword-shaped hands and "chemin de fer" minute track, saw the light of day in the 1930s and was considered a forerunner of its time.

Clearly structured and minimalist, the original Portugieser dial is still today an unrivalled example of watch design.

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PORTUGIESER

The Portugieser is one of IWC’s oldest and most iconic timepieces. No other IWC watch family encompasses so many technical masterpieces of Haute Horlogerie.

AN ICON OF STYLE

The legendary design of the Portugieser collection, with its striking dimensions, understated Arabic numerals, slender sword-shaped hands and "chemin de fer" minute track, saw the light of day in the 1930s, a time when it was considered to be ahead of its time. Clearly structured and minimalist, the original Portugieser dial is still today an unrivalled example of watch design.

THE "CHEMIN DE FER” MINUTE TRACK

Even today, the understated dial of the Portugieser family is adorned with a "chemin de fer" minute track (so-called because it is reminiscent of railway tracks), like the one used for pocket watches at the time. The minute track is unmistakable and fits harmoniously into the dial with its Arabic numerals and slim sword-shaped hands.

A LARGE CALIBRE INSPIRED BY POCKET WATCHES

The tradition of the voluminous pocket watch began in the 1930s, when two Portuguese traders commissioned IWC to make wristwatches with the precision of marine chronometers. Those “large wristwatches” revolutionised the watchmaking world, establishing the maxi size that is so popular with the industry today.