The Portuguese Automatic is one of the most elegant and iconic references from IWC Schaffhausen. The International Watch Co., currently known as IWC Schaffhausen, was founded in 1868 by American engineer and watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones a.k.a. F.A. Jones.
Appointed at age 27 as the director and production manager for E. Howard Watch & Clock Company in Boston, Mr. Jones moved to Europe looking to combine the excellence of Swiss craftsmanship and modern engineering to make top quality watches for the U.S. market.
The company situated near the Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen, is today one of the most renowned names in watchmaking and fine horology.
The IWC Portuguese Automatic ref. IW500107 in stainless steel, is a very elegant well designed timepiece that takes its name from the two Portuguese watch industry businessmen that visited IWC Schaffhausen —at the end of the 1930s— in search of acquiring steel case timepieces with technical precision and superb craftsmanship. During their visit, IWC decided to meet their demands by fitting the hunter movement of a pocket watch inside a wristwatch case and the Portuguese was then born.
The Portuguese Automatic is fitted with the in-house calibre 51011 with a spring-mounted rotor, Pellaton pawl-winding system and Breguet spring. This newly designed 7-day power reserve movement, represents a great technological and horological leap in the history of automatic calibres.
The Portuguese Automatic comes with a 42.3 mm watch case and a blue alligator leather strap with deployant buckle. The dial is off-white with anodized hands and applied anodized Arabic numbers and markers, power-reserve indicator at 3, running seconds at 9 and date aperture at 6.
The watch wears very comfortably and is not as heavy as one would expect for such a complex calibre and large case. The calibre is very nicely finished and visible through the sapphire crystal display case back. A real treat to the eyes.
If you are ready to wear a watch that is not conventional and that can be worn under the cuff of a bespoke shirt or with a t-shirt, this is a must-have in your collection.
Sticker price $12,400. The Portuguese Automatic is also available in 18K red gold, in stainless steel with white dial and red gold applied Arabic numerals or in stainless steel with a black dial. For more info click here.
