No Calendar Adjustments Needed at Month's End

Adjusting the calendar on a mechanical watch can often be a hassle. For models with a date display, you need to adjust it from the end of one month to the beginning of the next. If you also have to correct the day of the week and month displays, it becomes quite cumbersome. The Annual Calendar mechanism is designed to eliminate this tedious task.

The Annual Calendar is a mechanism that watch manufacturers are currently fiercely competing to develop, also known as the 'year-round calendar'. The internal mechanism automatically discerns all the changing calendar programs for each month and year, eliminating the need for manual adjustments at the end of each month. However, unlike a perpetual calendar, only the adjustment for the transition from the end of February to March 1st is left to the user. IWC plans to unveil the 'Portugieser Annual Calendar,' equipped with this Annual Calendar mechanism, as the highlight of SIHH 2015.

The 'Portugieser Annual Calendar' is powered by IWC's new in-house developed and manufactured automatic movement, Caliber 52850. Three independent semicircular windows are positioned at the 12 o'clock mark on the dial, displaying the month, date, and day of the week respectively. The length of each month is determined by a proprietary gear program, and only the adjustment for the end of February requires manual operation of the crown. Furthermore, with its automatic winding and two barrels, it boasts a 7-day (168-hour) power reserve, so there's no need to worry about the mainspring running down if worn regularly. The model introduced here features a deep blue dial, exuding a distinct personality on the wrist.

The 'Portugieser' series has previously featured complex complications such as perpetual calendars that do not require date adjustments and tourbillons that counteract the effects of gravity. However, a significant reorganization of the line is anticipated at SIHH 2015. With a high-level new mechanism already announced, anticipation is building for what other surprises await at the upcoming SIHH.