Portuguese explorers, like Vasco da Gama, who successfully rounded the Cape of Good Hope in 1497, and Ferdinand Magellan, who completed a circumnavigation of the globe in 1519, have always been passionate about seafaring. The same was true for the Portuguese men, Rodrigues and Teixeira, who visited the IWC watch factory in the 1930s. They commissioned IWC to manufacture stainless steel wristwatches with the precision of marine chronometers. In response, IWC produced a large hunter pocket watch equipped with the pocket watch movement "Cal. 74," fulfilling their expectations.

The "Portugieser" line, inspired by the watches born from these Portuguese requests, was introduced in 1993 as a special model to commemorate IWC's 125th anniversary. Its elegant dial and large case exude a classic yet remarkable presence. The current collection includes not only three-hand and chronograph models but also complex complications such as tourbillons and minute repeaters, with two types of perpetual calendar models alone.



One is a self-winding model powered by the "Cal. 51614," featuring a moon phase display for both the Northern and Southern hemispheres and a moon phase countdown function. The other is a model equipped with "Cal. 51613," which adopts a conventional single-type moon phase design. Both moon phase mechanisms incorporate ultra-high-precision movements that deviate by only one day every 577.5 years, and the year display is compatible with four digits. These specifications are designed to be passed down through generations.

Portugieser Perpetual Calendar (Northern and Southern Hemisphere Moon Phase Display Type) / Self-winding. 28,800 vibrations per hour. 166-hour power reserve. Case diameter 44.2mm. Case thickness 15.5mm. 18k red gold case. Crocodile strap. 3 bar water resistance. ¥3,848,250.

Self-winding. 28,800 vibrations per hour. 166-hour power reserve. Case diameter 42.3mm. Case thickness 15.6mm. Crocodile strap. 3 bar water resistance. ¥4,299,750 (18k white gold). ¥3,738,000 (18k red gold).

BRAND HISTORY

IWC (International Watch Company) was founded in 1868 by American watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, located on the border with Germany. He aimed to introduce the automation already in practical use in America to the Swiss watchmaking industry, striving for more efficient and refined watch production.

It is said that Jones chose Schaffhausen as the founding location due to the presence of a large power generation facility established by Johann Heinrich Moser. However, the geographical advantage of being near the German border also contributed to the brand's characteristic of producing robust, high-quality timepieces.

IWC experienced its most rapid growth in connection with the development of the aviation industry. Notably, the "Pilot's Watch" developed in the 1930s was officially adopted by the British Royal Air Force and military forces in Germany and Austria during World War II, becoming the aspiration of pilots worldwide.

Subsequently, IWC continued to develop unique mechanisms, such as the Pellaton automatic winding system and the perpetual calendar mechanism capable of displaying dates up to the year 2499. The brand also introduced popular series like the anti-magnetic "Ingenieur," the "Portugieser" inspired by its own pocket watches, and the deep-diving "Aquatimer," earning widespread acclaim from watch enthusiasts globally.

FOUNDED: 1868
FOUNDING LOCATION: Schaffhausen, Switzerland
MAIN SERIES: Ingenieur, Aquatimer, Portugieser, Da Vinci
INQUIRIES: IWC 03-3288-6359

Official Website: https://www.iwc.com/