Watches

Two new members join the timelessly elegant IWC Portofino family

Timely additions

04.09.2017

By Buro247

Two new members join the timelessly elegant IWC Portofino family

A little over 30 years ago, the Lépine pocket watch was the inspiration that birthed the outstanding 46mm Portofino Hand-Wound with Moon Phase. This crown jewel of IWC Schaffhausen’s line of gold watches soon went on to gain iconic status thanks to their combination of modesty and complexity. 

 

Now the family expands with two new additions to the lineup: 

 

Portofino Hand-Wound Tourbillon Rétrograde
(Ref. IW516501)

One of haute horlogerie most sophisticated complications makes its debut appearance in the collection. Expect down-to-the-second accuracy with the newly developed hacking tourbillion. The balance, pallet and escape wheel are mounted in a cage that rotates around its own axis once every minute to optimally maintain the watch’s rate and accuracy. Diamond-coated silicon components reduces friction to deliver an eight day power reserve with the IWC hand-wound 59900 calibre. 

Boasting a 45mm case of 18-carat red gold, the silver-plated dial makes a perfect showcase of the flying minute tourbillion beside a retrograde date display in the form of an analogue arc. Gold-plated hands, appliqués of solid gold and a peak of the Geneva striped adorned calibre through the sapphire-glass back signs the watch off with elegance. 

 

Portofino Hand-Wound Moon Phase (Ref. 5164)

Paying direct homage to the original Portofino timepiece of 1984, the Portofino Hand-Wound Eight Days receives an integrated moon phase display for the first time. In addition to the beauty of the moon phase module, the technology behind it too, should be admired-an adjustment is only needed once every 122 years. 

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Two versions of this timepiece have been created. One bears an 18-carat red gold case, a slate-coloured dial and solid gold appliqués (Ref. IW516403), while the second has a stainless-steel case, a silver-plated dial and gold-plated appliqués (Ref. IW516401). Both models are fitted with a dark brown alligator leather strap by Santoni and have a 45mm diameter case. 

 

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