Frederique Constant

Strikingly different

IWC Portugieser watches follow the tradition of precise marine chronometers. Their design is based on these models. IWC manufactured this model series 75 years ago. The watches were characterized by their accuracy, which was a novelty at the time: similarly precise watches were only available as voluminous pocket watches. The IWC model series was a sensation, which was made possible thanks to a Savonette pocket watch movement. It is considered the first "large" wristwatch. It was created in the Art Deco era, an early period of wristwatches. In the heyday of bracelets and bangles, the first wristwatches had a similar character; they were small and delicate. Most watch cases were rectangular or square. IWC Portugieser watches were different and set new standards. The round cases in a distinctive and eye-catching size and the reduced dial clearly stood out from watches of that time. Only very few examples of this luxury watch were sold until the 1980s. Standing out with a touch of luxury and, above all, a lot of self-confidence is still the motto of the IWC Portugieser model series, which has been reissued since 1993.

A special edition becomes an evergreen

The company's 125th anniversary was the deciding factor in reviving this IWC watch family. The name "Portugieser" is new and was the inspiration for the limited special series released to celebrate. This was so popular that IWC decided to include the Portugieser in the permanent IWC range with ever new variants. Today's Portugieser Yacht Club Chronograph is the most popular model in the series and is one of the best-selling IWC watches.

mirror of the company's history

The Portugieser luxury watch is particularly linked to the history of the Schaffhausen-based company IWC. The IWC model series recently celebrated its 75th anniversary. At the time of its creation, only a few lovers of exclusive and unusual watches noticed the Portugieser, but it developed into one of the most frequently sold luxury watches in the Haute Horlogerie sector. The entry of this IWC watch into the luxury segment is closely linked to the general history of IWC. As a manufacturer of pilot's watches and technically precise measuring instruments for aviation and technical institutions, the company only began to pave its way into the Haute Horlogerie sector in the late 1980s.

Traditional watches with masculine charm

As a Swiss company, IWC stands for precision, quality and innovation. For over 30 years, the company was a watch supplier for the Royal Air Force, among others. With its masculine, distinctive watches in aviator design, IWC offers watch lovers all over the world a wide range of elegant luxury watches. Innovative design, high-quality complications and exceptionally luxurious materials inspire buyers of the various IWC model series in the upscale luxury range.