In 2010, the Portuguese watches from IWC are entering their eighth decade. To celebrate its oldest and most popular collection, IWC introduced numerous Portuguese novelties at SIHH 2010, such as the Portuguese Grande Complication, the Portuguese Tourbillon Mystère Rétrograde or the Portuguese Yacht Club Chronograph. These large format, mechanicalprecision instruments perpetuate the legacy of the famous seafarers to this day, and hand it down to today’s explorers.
Portuguese Grande Complication (Ref. 3774)
Today, our topics are set at the Portuguese Grande Complication (Ref. 3774) and the Portuguese Tourbillon Mystère Rétrograde (Ref. 5044).
The Grande Complication from IWC Schaffhausen, which brought the highest horological complications together in a wristwatch as a world-first precisely twenty years ago, now appears for the first time in a Portuguese case. It also retains its impressive technical inventory: perpetual calendar, minute repeater and chronograph with automatic movement.
After 30 years as an exclusive solitaire in the manufacturer’s range, the Grande Complication now makes its début in the red gold Portuguese case – as the Portuguese Grande Complication (Ref. 3774). With more room inside the 45 millimetres case, and for the first time waterresistant to 3 bar, the beautiful sound from its minute repeating mechanism nevertheless remains unchanged. A discreetly engraved globe and gold appliqués decorate the silver-plated dial. True to the tradition of the Grande Complication, a limited edition of fifty watches per year is retained. A new engraving on the case back depicts a sextant and makes the affiliation with the Portuguese family obvious.
Portuguese Grande Complication (Ref. 3774)
Technical Specifications
Reference: IW3774
Features: Grande Complication with 657 mechanical components, automatic chronograph movement, perpetual calendar with display of the day, date, month and the complete year in four digits, perpetual moon phase, minute repeater, small hacking seconds, engraving of a sextant on the case back
Movement: Calibre 79091; Beats 28,800/h; Jewels 75; Power reserve 44 h; Winding automatic
Case: watch and folding clasp in 18 ct red gold, silver-plated dial, dark brown alligator leather strap with 18 ct red gold stitching
Glass: sapphire, arched edge, antireflective coating on both sides
Water-resistant: 3 bar
Diameter: 45mm
Height: 16.5mm
Portuguese Tourbillon Mystère Rétrograde (Ref. 5044)
The coveted Portuguese Tourbillon Mystère in two new, limited series in platinum and red gold with the retrograde date display is enhanced by an additional horological refinement, which also appears in the name of this novelty: Portuguese Tourbillon Mystère Rétrograde (Ref. 5044). A date indicator with a flyback function at the end of the month has been integrated into this exceptional watch for the first time. The role of the seconds display is performed by the cage of the minute tourbillon.
Whereas in the previous model the tourbillon was still embedded in a plate segment decorated with cylindrical grinding, in the Portuguese Tourbillon Mystère Rétrograde it is set in a ring that is mirror-finished on the inside, in which the parts of the escapement are reflected once again. For aside from the technical delicacy of this escapement, the Portuguese Tourbillon Mystère Rétrograde is above all a true feast for the eyes.
In addition to the 500-piece limited edition of the variant in 18 carat red gold with solid gold appliqués and a silver-plated dial, a 250-piece limited edition of the variant in platinum with a ruthenium-black dial and rhodium-plated hands and indices is also available.
Technical Specifications:
Reference: IW5044
Features: Mechanical IWC-manufactured movement with Pellaton winding system and seven-day power reserve, retrograde date display, flying minute tourbillon with 81 parts, Breguet spring, rotor with 18 ct yellow gold medallion; red gold variant limited to 500 pieces, platinum variant limited to 250 pieces
Movement: Calibre 51900; Beats 19,800/h; Jewels 44; Power reserve 7 days; Winding automatic; Tourbillon weight 0.433 g
Case: watch in 18 ct red gold with silver-plated dial and dark brown alligator leather strap, folding clasp in 18 ct red gold
watch in platinum with ruthenium-black dial and black alligator leather strap, folding clasp in platinum
Glass: sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
Back: see-through sapphire-glass back
Crown: screw-in
Water-resistant: 3 bar
Diameter: 44.2mm
Height: 15.5mm
Your IP Address is:
38.107.191.107
