Recently at the SIHH watch fair in Geneva, Switzerland watchmaker IWC unveiled the update to its popular Portuguese line of watches. The Portuguese – which was originally introduced in 1939 – is by far my favorite model from what could be my favorite maker. To celebrate the launch of the new collection, IWC made a short film with Jean Reno called The Spirit of Navigation, which is interesting once you can stop thinking about Jean Reno in Ronin. (Side note: remember that Audi car chase?) The Portuguese collection is inspired by the great Portuguese seafaring explorers and the IWC film explains the interesting connection between time and navigation. Essentially, time is navigation and vice versa. Portuguese to me is the perfect combination of beauty, precision and luxury. I hope to own one soon. In the interim, I suppose I will just have to enjoy the five new Portuguese timepieces pictured below via the internets.
I like the pilot chrono myself, but those are nice.
Ronin – a desert island movie. What a cast; and probably DeNiro’s last good performance.
“Whenever there is any doubt, there is no doubt. That’s the first thing they teach you.
“Who taught you?
“I don’t remember. That’s the second thing they teach you.”
But I digress. Those Portuguesers are some of my favorite watches, particularly the chrono.
Beautiful. One of the best around. To add to the origins of the Portuguese line, this is from the Timezone archives:
The original Portuguese wristwatch was conceived in 1938, following a request from two Portuguese businessmen, Rodriguez and Texeira..They wanted IWC to construct a highly accurate, oversized wristwatch. At the time, wristwatches were quite small by today’s standards, case diameters were usually below 33 millimeters in diameter. The requested watch was to be substantially larger. To power this unusual piece, IWC’s watchmakers selected the Calibre 74, a hunter-style pocketwatch movement. During the 1940’s, IWC sold a relatively small number of other oversized Portuguese watches, but never quite enough to justify large scale production of the pieces.
Beautiful watch indeed, but before you buy, make sure it fits your wrist nicely. IMHO, the “oversized” diameter is not for everyone, and the timepiece can look a tad out of place on a wrist of less than 7 inches.
My personal favorite from IWC is the Mark XII — a true pilot’s watch classic.
Yo-
These watches are, like, 5Gs. You kiddin me?
Best,
b
Beautiful watch. Amazing brand. I copied my uncle and bought a pilot chrono about a year ago. Be aware: the alligator bands on these watches do not last very long and are very expensive to replace. If you prefer the look of the alligator band I strongly recommend upgrading to a deployment buckle to ease the wear and tear. If you like the tang bracelet I would go with the black nylon strap featured on the pilot chrono edition models.
Beautiful watches. Beautiful photographs. I might have to start wearing a watch again.
I’ve promised myself I’d invest in an IWC Portuguese Automatic once I could afford to splurge. Those are so size. For now though, my Christopher Ward look-a-like will have to do. Love the new line, regardless of my wallet shortcomings!
Porto 5001 is a nice watch I used to have one in white with blue hands. I have small wrists (sub 7″) and I now wear a Big Pilot, so I don’t care if its oversized. Value wise for an in-house 7 days movement its pretty close to the best you can get. I’ve also tried the 3717 and it was a little smaller and cheaper, but not nearly as nice. Richemont does it so right when it comes to paying hommage to the past with modern takes on tool watches, great post!
Sell a few of those black and white oxford shirts and you’ll easily be able to afford one, Michel. BTW, go fuck yourself!!
I sold them all (save one); and if I could fuck myself do you think I would waste time entertaining animals like you?
Hugs and kisses,
MW
P.S. Did you know that when you comment under your real name and email once (prolly when you are saying nice stuff) and THEN comment under a fake name and email (BUT from the same computer) it ties the two comments together? Yeah, that’s prob something you should work on avoiding Ben.
Wow, that one really backfired on you ol” Benny-boy. You kiss your boyfriend with that mouth?
Notice that 4 of 5 watches are set to 10:10? It’s to make a symmetrical “smile” for photography. And the 5th watch is on its side, thus smiling at 1:23. Here’s a post (French) on the topic: http://tinyurl.com/ygt5tub. In the world of watch/clock photography, it’s always 10:10.
That Audi car chase scene was amazing! Supposedly, that was an F-1 driver, but who really knows. Regardless, throwing a big car around like that definitely takes talent.
Tough to a favorite amongst those watches…great pick.
Shit I wanted one of those black shirts. Snoozed and lost.
That yacht club port, the new one, is SICK, except for the “yacht club” wording printed on the lower dial. Not into that. Still better than the yachtmaster 2 rolex travesty though . . .
Sell more ads and you’ll be close !
Of course the tourbillion or the minute repeater is the killer here. I’ve lusted after the chrono and the port auto until I tried them on. Then they were like, eh. The port auto has a lot of issues and that that price, it shouldn’t, imo. Great brand though, I own two…just babies, an earlier pilot chrono and a mark 16.
I just got engaged. She got the ring she wanted, but I don’t want to wear a ring so went with a wedding watch instead – a Portuguese.
They are to oversized. IWC tends to, with their “new” CEO, follow trends rather then take care of their hertige.
I am a collector if IWC watches besides one Big Pilot watch, I collect the Portuguese line. I am up too 9 of them. If you can buy them right they are a good investment, and with the classic clean lines of the line…you are sure to look good in the future.
Best,
E