IWC Portuguese

IWC Portuguese Family comprises eleven prominent representatives of the world of Haute Horlogerie. Each of these watches celebrates a glorious past of Portugal’s great seafarers, such as Vasco da Gama, Bartolomeu Dias or Ferdinand Magellan. They perfectly combine the tradition of nautical instruments with complex mechanics and contemporary design.

The Portuguese line of watches owes its name to two Portuguese Merchants. In the late 1930s, they requested extremely precise wristwatches in steel cases from IWC. The first Portuguese watch was finished in 1939 and it established an IWC family which accuracy and forward-looking mechanics have been the sources of pleasure to watch aficionados for more than 70 years. That was the first pocket-watch-style wristwatch housed in a giant-sized case. 

In 1967, at theBaselwatch fair, the Swiss manufacturer from Schaffhausen presented a delightfully crafted Yacht Club Automatic men’s wristwatch. This rugged timepiece was ideal for everyday use and absolutely suited to the hardships of life on stormy seas. Powered by 8541 caliber which was able to neutralize any knocks and bangs, this masterpiece quickly became one of the best-selling IWC watches of all time.

In the past 10 years, IWC launched several Portuguese watches (Portuguese Automatic in 2000, Portuguese Perpetual Calendar in 2003, Portuguese F. A. Jones Hand-Wound limited edition in 2005, Portuguese Hand-Wound in 2008 and the latest models, such as Portuguese Tourbillon Mystère Rétrograde, Portuguese Grande Complication and this year’s novelty Portuguese Yacht Club Chronograph Edition “Volvo Ocean Race 2011–2012”). Each of these timepieces represents accurate navigation instruments designed for everyday use.