IW371610 offers, in my opinion, the best spectacle of the sunray adorned dial. The contrast with the black sub-dials is lovely. IW371606 shares the decoration with the black dial version. IW371609 with black dial is adorned with rhodium-plated hands and appliques. These two references have the same dial decoration, including the blued chronograph central seconds’ hand and 30 minutes’ counter hand. IW371611Ībove is visible the gold case IW371611 that shares the same dial with the steel Ref. IW371605īetween the models, the variations are just purely cosmetic. The small seconds and the chronograph 30 minutes counter uses two vertical placed recessed sub-dials with circular guilloche pattern. Rest of the decorations are printed, including the sloped inner bezel featuring the seconds’ register. The minutes’ register uses a set of recessed dots in the colour scheme of the watch. The clean dial is adorned with applied numerals as hour indexes. The model gained respect for its simple look and excellent visibility – the main requirements that led to the born of the Portugieser. Not only from IWC but also between the classic timepieces. The IWC Portugieser is one of the most recognisable timepieces. IWC Portugieser Chronograph steel side The Portugieser dial The 13.1 mm height is just slightly bigger as the older closed case version, in order to accommodate the sapphire crystal. The watch offers 3bar water-resistance (visible also as engraving detail on the caseback). IWC Portugieser Chronograph steel caseback The brushed buckle is decorated with the IWC logo medallion. The watch is fitted with a solid deployant clasp. IWC Portugieser Chronograph triple folding clasp The winding imposes no problems, being smooth, effortless. I found that without a bit of fingernail it is difficult to get the crown in the setting position. The IWC specific crown is decorated with embedded IWC logo. Definitively an improvement over the classical versions with modified Valjoux. The polished “mushroom” pushers have nice and firm feedback. The crown and pushers are well integrated into the 41 mm steel or gold case. The brushed case band makes a great contrast with the polished bezel and see-through caseback. IW371605 An elegant classicĭecades of Portugieser has established the model as an elegant but slightly sporty watch with roots in the nautical side of the watchmaking. IW371605, the white dial with blue accents as one of the most classic versions (more a bit of a favourite). I focused mainly on the IWC Portugieser Chronograph Ref. But other than the dial colour variations there are no other differences (of course, there are the four steel and two gold versions). Unfortunately, I was not able to photograph all six of them. These two references were launched at SIHH 2018 together with other anniversary pieces.
IWC used previously the calibre 69355 in the IW371601 (blue dial) and IW371602 (white dial) – the IWC Portugieser Chronograph Edition “150 Years”. For those familiar with the brand and particular with this model, the manufacture movement is not a big surprise.
The novelty consists in the use of in-house movement 69355 instead of the modified ETA Valjoux 7750. IWC Schaffhausen launched 6 new models of the well known Portugieser Chronograph. IW371606 Review IWC Portugieser Chronograph This historic collection does look good in the new chronograph version and I decided to share with you some pictures and impressions. Two days later I drove to Munchen, to the IWC Boutique to see them live. At the beginning of the week, I have published the press release of the new IWC Portugieser Chronograph with in-house calibre.