Introducing The IWC Portugieser Hand-Wound Eight Days Edition 75th Anniversary (Live Pics, Official Pricing)

January 19, 2015

IWC will celebrate 75 years of the Portuguese this year, and to kick things off, theyre expanding the line with a new look that looks like an old look. And it is awesome.?Among the new models is the Hand-Wound Eight Days Edition 75th Anniversary,?an homage to the original Portuguese models offered in the early 40s. Like the anniversary edition released in 1993 (ref. 5441), the new Hand-Wound takes its styling cues from its predecessors?but remains remains distinct in its own right, not meant to resurrect any specific reference. Oh, and it's gorgeous. The Portuguese Hand-Wound is a vivid reminder that IWC is aware of, and actively seeking to, remain connected to its?heritage. The dial features a simple design, with just 3, 9, and 12 oclock labeled in mid-century typeface and a two-tone color scheme. A prominent chapter ring runs the outer edge, with hour and minute demarcations. A large sub dial dominates the lower half of the dial, serving as home to the running seconds hand and the date aperture, which sits at 6?oclock. I would say this is the most subtle date window I've seen in a long, long time.?Bringing the whole thing together is the branding labeled at 12 oclock, written out fully, just as the original, International Watch Co. You wont find a caliber 73 or 74 inside the new Hand-Wound C?rather it employs the IWC caliber 59215, a hand wind (obviously) mechanical movement that offers a full eight days of reserve thanks to twin mainspring barrels. The movement dominates the view through the exhibition case back, proving an appropriate level of decoration to what should make for perfect evening wear. But this is still IWC, and it's robust enough to wear every single day. The Portuguese Hand-Wound is sized at 43 mm. That might be a tough pill to swallow, but bear in mind that the original, as offered in 1939, was also sized at 43 mm. If you thank that sounds big now, it would have been downright enormous at a time when 33 mm was standard for a mens watch. So, while this would have been an absolute stunner at 39mm, we cant begrudge it at 43 mm. IWCs latest Portuguese will be offered in one of two configurations, each limited in production. The stainless steel will come with a black dial and feature green detailing on the dial. There will be 750 built in steel and it will be price at $11,500.?The other will come in 18k red gold and feature a silver-plated dial with gold detailing. Just 175 will be built in red gold and while normally we're in the steel camp, the red gold is really a stand-out piece here.?Pricing will be $22,000.?Honestly, this could be the best new piece from IWC in a while. Learn more about these fantastic new Portuguese Hand-Wounds at IWCs website, right here.