IWC Portugieser Watches

IWC Portugieser Watches – a Step Ahead of Their Time

IWC Portugieser watches are legendary within the world of ocular horology and have set extremely high standards right from the beginning. The Portugieser came about in the 1930s after a pair of Portuguese businessmen requested a precise marine chronometer from IWC, which led to the Savonnette pocket watch calibre 74 (and sometimes 98) being housed within the case of a wristwatch.

This development resulted in an unusually sizable watch for the time, and it is no exaggeration to say that this helped to popularise the move towards larger wristwatches that is still evident today. The larger movement also led to the first Portugieser being far more accurate than other options at the time. After a limited edition run, IWC brought the Portugieser into regular circulation in 1993, and the collection has now become a mainstay. The IWC Portugieser Chronograph is just one highly sought-after watch line within the family. Just as important is the IWC Portugieser perpetual calendar functionality.

The Legendary IWC Portugieser Collection

The Portugieser automatic family has exhibited some of the most complex innovations within the watchmaking world, including a tourbillon movement and a celestial chart. This latter feature appears on the Sidérale Sacfusia, the most complicated watch ever created by IWC, and displays the night sky over a specific location, showcasing up to 1,000 visible stars. Other timepieces like the IWC Perpetual Calendar watch make use of related complexities, though, with moon phase and annual calendar indicators all included on the dial. Annual calendars are especially sought after by connoisseurs, as they need only be adjusted once per year. The Yacht Club chronographs are also especially popular, as they represent a sportier facet of this esteemed collection, even exhibiting a flyback function.

The large dial that resulted in IWC Portugieser watches being so ahead of its time in the 1930s is still a significant style icon to many, with Arabic numerals, a railway-track style chapter ring (known as a “chemin-de-fer”) and slim hands all on display. The chemin-de-fer is divided into one-minute sections, so it also serves as a functional aid, assisting the user to easily identify the time. Many IWC Portugieser automatic watches are finished using traditional black alligator straps to reinforce their timeless aesthetic, with fastenings that mirror the appearance of the luxurious case material.

Purchase Your Way

Banks Lyon is the only stockist of IWC watches that you’ll find between Manchester, Leeds and Glasgow, and we are dedicated to making timepieces such as the Portugieser or the IWC Pilot Watch as accessible as possible. We bring you 0% finance on all our new IWC Portugieser watches, allowing you to tailor the duration of your payment to suit your own preferences. With deposits beginning at just 10% and a payment plan of up to 48 months, you can choose how you pay.

For more information, or to get some advice about which IWC timepiece might best meet your specifications, you can depend upon our personal shoppers to assist you. Just contact our professional team today and we’ll be more than happy to help. You can also call 01524 381 020 or ask in person at one of our Lancaster or Kendal showrooms to enjoy the famous Banks Lyon experience.