IWC Portugieser Automatic 42 silver dial leather strap 42,4 mm

A Horological Icon Born in the 1930s

The Portugieser occupies a unique place in the history of IWC Schaffhausen. Its origins date back to the late 1930s, when two Portuguese merchants asked the Swiss manufacture to develop a wristwatch capable of delivering the precision of a marine chronometer. To meet this challenge, IWC chose to house a pocket watch movement inside a large wristwatch case, creating a timepiece that was radically different from the standards of its era.

This innovative approach laid the foundations for what would become one of the most iconic collections in contemporary haute horlogerie. With its spacious dial, applied Arabic numerals, elegant feuille hands, and signature railway-track minute scale, the Portugieser has crossed the decades without ever losing its relevance. More than eighty years after its creation, its design remains instantly recognizable and remarkably modern.

The Portugieser Automatic 42 IW501701 proudly continues this prestigious legacy. A direct descendant of the famous Portugieser Automatic introduced in 2000, it preserves the aesthetic codes that have made the collection so successful while benefiting from a significant technical and stylistic evolution unveiled in 2024. A watch that elegantly combines horological heritage with contemporary innovation.

The New Face of the Portugieser Automatic

With the generation introduced in 2024, IWC has completely reimagined the Portugieser Automatic 42 while preserving the identity that made it an icon. The stainless steel case now benefits from a subtly redesigned construction, featuring a slimmer profile that enhances the watch’s overall elegance and gives it a lighter presence on the wrist.

One of the most significant developments is the introduction of a double-sided sapphire crystal in a glassbox design. This architecture adds greater depth to the dial while creating a particularly refined visual effect. The eye is naturally drawn to the hallmark indications of the Portugieser Automatic: the power reserve display at 3 o’clock and the small seconds at 9 o’clock, an aesthetic signature that has accompanied the model since its launch at the beginning of the 2000s.

The IW501701 stands out with its stunning Silver Moon dial, a luminous and warm shade that perfectly highlights the gold-toned hands and appliqués. This dial is the result of an exceptionally demanding manufacturing process. Following meticulous preparation of the brass base, no fewer than fifteen layers of transparent lacquer are applied and then polished to achieve extraordinary visual depth and brilliance.

The subdials are directly milled into the dial before the lacquer is applied, creating a subtle three-dimensional effect that enhances the sophistication of the entire composition. Combined with the applied Arabic numerals, feuille hands, and the famous railway-track minute scale, these details contribute to making this new Portugieser Automatic one of the most elegant and accomplished dress watches ever produced by the Schaffhausen manufacture.

The Manufacture Calibre 52011 and Its 7-Day Power Reserve

At the heart of the Portugieser Automatic 42 IW501701 beats the IWC manufacture calibre 52011, one of the most iconic automatic movements developed by the Schaffhausen manufacture. Visible through the generous sapphire case back, it perfectly illustrates IWC’s philosophy of combining technical performance, robustness, and mechanical elegance within a single timepiece.

This movement is equipped with the renowned Pellaton winding system, a historic IWC invention that efficiently converts the motion of the rotor into energy. In this latest generation, the mechanism benefits from zirconium oxide ceramic components that are virtually wear-free, ensuring exceptional durability and long-term efficiency.

Thanks to its twin barrels, the calibre 52011 delivers an impressive power reserve of 168 hours, equivalent to seven full days of autonomy. This performance is displayed directly on the dial at 3 o’clock, allowing the wearer to monitor the remaining energy at any time. A feature that has become inseparable from the Portugieser Automatic since its introduction in 2000.

The escapement has also been optimized to improve resistance to magnetic fields, while the entire construction has been engineered to ensure precision, stability, and long-term reliability. A true demonstration of IWC’s technical expertise, the calibre 52011 plays a major role in establishing this Portugieser Automatic 42 as one of the leading references in contemporary watchmaking.

A Silver Moon Dial of Exceptional Depth

The IW501701 is distinguished by its Silver Moon dial, a luminous and sophisticated shade that enhances the natural elegance of the Portugieser. Inspired by the perpetual cycle of day and night that guided the development of the new dial colors introduced in 2024, this silvery hue offers a perfect balance between classical restraint and contemporary refinement. Depending on the angle of the light, the dial reveals subtle nuances and a delicate brilliance that continuously animate the watch.

The gold-toned feuille hands and matching appliqués create a warm contrast against the Silver Moon background. This combination of colors brings significant character to the model while preserving the restraint that defines the finest dress watches. The iconic applied Arabic numerals and railway-track minute scale complete this unmistakable Portugieser composition.

Paired with a black alligator leather strap and a stainless steel case featuring perfectly balanced proportions, this dial gives the Portugieser Automatic 42 a remarkable presence on the wrist. A timepiece that captivates as much through the quality of its execution as through the timelessness of its design.

One of the Finest Contemporary Dress Watches

The Portugieser Automatic 42 IW501701 embodies everything that has defined IWC Schaffhausen for more than 150 years: timeless aesthetics, high-level mechanics, and a resolutely functional approach to haute horlogerie. Descended from a history that began in the late 1930s, it successfully preserves the DNA of the collection while integrating the latest technical developments from the manufacture.

Its redesigned case, spectacular Silver Moon dial, glassbox crystal, and manufacture movement offering seven days of power reserve make it one of the most accomplished Portugieser models ever produced. Every detail reflects IWC’s commitment to continuously refining a watch that has become an absolute benchmark in the world of contemporary dress watches.

Elegant, technical, and timeless, this Portugieser Automatic 42 is designed for enthusiasts of fine watchmaking who seek a timepiece capable of remaining relevant for decades to come. A true modern icon, faithful to the spirit of precision and excellence that has driven the collection since its origins.