IWC Schaffhausen has constantly been the birthing ground of Swiss ingenuity and mechanical mastery in horology, and the latest watches introduced by the brand are in fact proof. IWC has announced a bunch of new timepieces and the Portugieser Perpetual Calendar 42 is one of them. This is the first time that the coveted Perpetual Calendar complication has been integrated with an IWC Manufacture calibre. The movement comes from the 82000 calibre series. The 42 mm width is symbolic of both the watch’s aesthetic grandiose as well as mechanical proficiency. The brand has also revealed a 44 mm boutique exclusive reference.
Throughout the course of time, the luxury watchmaking industry has been through numerous groundbreaking inventions and breakthroughs. These also include some of the most impressive complications in modern Haute Horlogerie. But none come close to the Perpetual Calendar. Legendary watchmaker Kurt Klaus created the perpetual calendar in the 1980s. This creation not only put IWC on a path to greatness but also set the tone for the entire industry for times to come.
The IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar 42
The timepiece comes at a time when the haute horlogerie industry could do with some change. Of course, when we talk about a watch like the Portugieser, impeccable timing is inevitable.
The 42 mm size of the case signifies that IWC can indeed fit a perpetual calendar in a smaller case. This is possible because of the new in-house manufactured perceptual calendar calibre. The calendar module proceeds with the help of a single impulse at night. The insides of the watch consist of a Pellaton winding system with zirconium oxide ceramic components.
The show stopper, however, is the perpetual calendar complication. The set up automatically recognizes monthly patterns and adds an additional day in February every four years. Every display, that is, date, day, month, and moon phase are perfectly in synchronization. These displays can be adjusted via the crown. The watch has the date, month, and day displays positioned at 3 o’clock, 6 o’clock, and 9 o’clock, respectively. The moon phase display is fused together with the month display sub-dial and only deviated from the moon’s actual orbit after 577.5 years. If this isn’t remarkable, then probably nothing is. The weekday display has a counter that keeps track of the years until the next leap year.
A Step Towards The Future – Calibre 82650
There is probably no other complication in the book that better defines the intricacies and depths of mechanical watchmaking. IWC’s Perpetual Calendar has been the beacon for horological mastery for ages and it was high-time we got an update. For the first time, the watchmaker has integrated the calendar complication with its in-house line of movements. In this particular case, it happens to be the 82000 series of calibres.
The automatic Calibre 82650 operates at 4 Hertz or 28,800 vibrations per hour, has 46 jewels at work, and offers a power reserve of 60 hours. The movement features a Pellaton self-winding system, a perpetual calendar with a date, day, month, and leap year display. Other features include a moon phase, a central hacking seconds hand, and a see through case back for those who have a taste for class.
A sneak Peek Into The New Timepieces
IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar – IW344203
The timepiece has a body made of stainless steel, it has a silver plated dial, gold plated appliques and hands, and a black leather strap courtesy of Santoni.
IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar – IW344202
The IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar watch oozes splendor with its 42 mm 18-carat 5N gold body, silver plated dial, 18-carat gold plated appliques and gold plated hands, and a Santoni brown leather strap.
IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar – IW344205
The 18-carat 5N gold case gets a tab prettier with a blue dial this time. The gold plated hands are very much there and so are the 18-carat gold plated appliques. The blue Santoni leather strap is a nice touch to seal off the package.
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
Archives