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Watches Portugaise

Portugaise IWC

See 2 portugaise watches
The IWC Portuguese is an exceptional cutting-edge watch inspired by the navy.
See 2 portugaise watches

Birth of a legendary model

A true watchmaking revolution, this model was born in 1939 from a daring order from two Portuguese merchants. IWC took up the challenge of creating a timepiece on a par with marine chronometers: the Portugaise is intended to be of unparalleled precision.
Birth of a legendary model

An emblematic design

With its Portuguese watch, IWC has introduced a larger format of the wristwatch that has conquered the watchmaking world. Its dial, dressed with a minute track, is set by slender and slender hands, for a refined and minimalist style.
An emblematic design

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IWC
Portugaise
2 items
certified authenticity

certified authenticity

Minimum 2-year warranty

Minimum 2-year warranty

Free pick-up in shop

Free pick-up in shop

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Watches, from the Mag

About Portugaise

IWC Portuguese: a navy-inspired timepiece


With its imposing dimensions-light years ahead of the fashion of the time-and its very high-precision movements inspired by naval chronometers, IWC's Portugaise is ahead of its time. The story begins when two Portuguese merchants placed an unprecedented order with IWC for a wristwatch as accurate as a marine chronometer. At the time, such a chronometer required a movement that was far too large to fit in a watch. The Swiss manufacturer then chose to integrate a gousset movement, namely the caliber 74, into a large 42 mm case. A first revolution for the time since the trend was for thin, rectangular watches inspired by the Art Deco movement.

IWC's Portuguese: a new watchmaking trend


IWC's Portugaise thus pushes the limits of precision thanks to its caliber possessing a much larger balance wheel. Its roundness and imposing dial also bring a stylistic breath of fresh air to the world of watchmaking. Despite this, it will pay for its eccentricity. Until the 1980s, only a hundred or so were produced, due to a design that was too atypical for the time. Finally, it was not until 1993 that the watch met its public and proudly took the name of IWC Portugieser. This model owes its renaissance to a limited eponymous collection (reference 5441) launched in 1993 on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of IWC. Its movement and design are out of the ordinary and inaugurate a new watchmaking trend. They are now the best-sellers of the Swiss manufacturer.