In 2015, the Schaffhausen-based watchmaker celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Portuguese family so this will be the Year of the Portugieser. The very first Portuguese watch was created at the end of the 1930’s and featured the clean design, which has been recognizable for the Portuguese till today. To mark this important jubilee, IWC announces its very first annual calendar timepiece which displays the month, date and day, in three separate, semicircular aperture at the 12 o’clock position.
The new IWC Portugieser Annual Calendar (ref. 5035) at first sight looks like the Portuguese Automatic, but it is a little bigger with the diameter of 44,2mm and the thickness of 15,3mm.
IWC Portugieser Annual Calendar Watch
This newcomer is equipped with the new in-house manufactured caliber 52850 that features two barrels which keep the new function supplied with enough energy. Furthermore, these barrels can store enough power to keep the watch ticking for a week (7 days). The new mechanical movement is a part of the renewed caliber 52000 family which is actually an updated versions of the 50000 family of calibers that have been used so far.
IWC Portugieser Annual Calendar Watch Dial
The new caliber is built on 36 jewels and oscillates at the rapid frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz). This impeccable caliber, like all the new calibers from the new 52000-caliber family, boasts slimmer proportions of the rotor, the improved Pellaton winding system, as well as an engraved rotor made of solid 18-karat red gold and blued screws. IWC Portugieser Annual Calendar has a see-through sapphire glass case back where its inner beauty is shown in all its glory.
IWC Portugieser Annual Calendar Watch Profile
Considering the fact that it is an annual calendar watch, the new Portugieser will only need to be adjusted on leap years, because it is not able to take into consideration those years when February has one more day.
IWC will offer three variants of its first Annual Calendar model. Two versions are housed in stainless steel cases. The first one with the referent number IW503501 features a silver-plated dial and a black alligator leather strap, fitted with a steel folding clasp, while the second steel model with the referent number IW503502 has a midnight blue dial and comes with a black alligator leather strap, ending with a folding clasp in steel. The third model (ref. IW503504) is crafted from 18-karat red gold and matches a silver-plated dial. It is accessorized with a black alligator leather strap, fitted with a red gold folding clasp.
IWC Portugieser Annual Calendar Watch Case Back
The steel models are priced CHF 23,000 (about $26,200) each, whilst the red gold version can be purchased for CHF 34,000 (approximately $38,700).
In this commemorative year for the Portugieser, IWC will rework the most of its Portuguese models, presenting almost a dozen new timepieces, as well as three new movements. The redesigned Portuguese collection will be unveiled at the SIHH this week.
