The iconic IWC Portofino line is joined by 3 stunning new models with calendar and date complications.
Founded by American watchmaker and engineer Florentine Ariosto Jones in 1868, IWC Schaffhausen’s unique engineering approach to watchmaking covers trailblazing technology and processes in creating professional instrument watches and functional complications, especially chronographs and calendars that are inventive yet easy to use. The Portofino line is no different.
Created in 1984, the casual yet sophisticated Portofino line has seen many iterations that reflect IWC’s expertise in engineering functional and robust complications. This time, the Swiss luxury watchmaker presents three new models with calendar and date complications under the Portofino line in the form of the Portofino Complete Calendar and the Portofino Automatic Pointer Date.
IWC Portofino Complete Calendar
With the new models come a few firsts for the brand. The Portofino Complete Calendar (Ref. 3590), presented in 18-carat 5N gold or stainless steel, is the first timepiece to feature the newly developed complete calendar module developed by IWC. The complete calendar shows the date, day of the week, month and moon phase in two subdials. The subdial at 12 o’clock displays the day of the week and the moon phase, while the date and month are shown at 6 o’clock.
The calendar module, made up of 69 individual parts, only needs to be manually adjusted at the end of a month which has less than 31 days. Each display is driven by a separate gear train and can be adjusted independently of the others via the crown or using two correction buttons integrated into the side of the case. On the last day of the month, the date must be manually set to position 31 via the crown. All displays, including the high-precision moon phase display, will then automatically advance by one day around midnight.
Below the calendar module beats the IWC-manufactured 32150 calibre, a highly precise and reliable automatic movement that features a pawl winding system and a power reserve of 72 hours. The movement is found within both the gold (Ref. IW359002) and stainless steel (Ref. IW359001) versions, which each feature a silver-plated dial and gold-plated hands, and are fitted with straps made of traceable Swiss calf leather with a natural and soft finish. The gold version comes with solid gold appliques and a taupe calfskin strap, while the stainless steel model comes features gold-plated applique, and a blue calfskin strap.
IWC Portofino Automatic Pointer Date
As for the new Portofino Automatic Pointer Date (Ref. IW359201), it will be the first Portofino model with a jumping date indication in a sub counter at 6 o’clock. A small hand points to the current date on the analogue display, and every night around midnight, the pointer jumps to the new date. Housed in a sleek 39mm stainless steel case, the watch features a silver-plated dial with gold-plated hands and appliques. This elegantly-sized newcomer is fitted with a brown calfskin strap with a quick-change system for versatility in style.
The Automatic Pointer Date is available in February 2023 online at IWC.com, and in IWC boutiques and authorised retail partners. The Portofino Complete Calendar will be available come April 2023. Both models are eligible for registration under the My IWC care program, benefitting from a 6-year extension to the standard 2-year International Limited Warranty.
Images courtesy of IWC Schaffhausen, artwork by Curatedition. All rights reserved.
Related Links:
IWC Schaffhausen: Band of Gold
The Case of the IWC Portofino 34
