Jewellery & Watch News
As part of their stunning Watches & Wonders 2023 line-up, IWC Schaffhausen has introduced a new version of their Portugieser Automatic 40 with a slender stainless steel case and a breathtaking salmon dial. The new IWC Portugieser Automatic 40 Salmon watch mimics much of the specification of the reinvented Portugieser collection from 2020 with its wearable 40mm size but adds in a new salmon pink display and the IWC-manufactured 82200 movement with a 60-hour power reserve.
The story behind the IWC Portugieser watch collection began during the 1930’s when two Portuguese gentlemen asked the Schaffhausen-based watchmaker to make a wristwatch with the precision of a marine chronometer. Creating a watch with such perfect precision was no easy task, and in the end, IWC placed their Calibre 74 hunter pocket watch movement within a large 43mm case. This design became known as “Reference 325” before later being named the Portugieser. Unsurprisingly, the IWC Portugieser watch has barely changed since its origins, utilising the same thin bezel, simple Arabic numerals and leaf shaped hands in today’s collections. The same rules apply to the new IWC Portugieser Automatic 40 Salmon watch which is yet again, a thing of beauty.
The IWC Portugieser Automatic 40 Salmon watch follows in the footsteps of the previous 40mm designs in the collection offering a beautifully curved stainless steel case with brushed sides and a polished fixed bezel up top. It comes in at only 12.4mm tall with a 30 metre water resistant rating, a gently knurled crown at 3 o’clock and an exhibition case back. Sapphire crystal glass is used on both sides of the IWC Portugieser Automatic 40 Salmon watch, the top side adding in anti-reflective treatment for easy legibility of the new salmon dial while the back allows us a peek of the automatic winding movement within. The case secures to the wrist by black alligator leather strap with tone-on-tone stitching and a stainless-steel folding buckle.
The novelty of the IWC Portugieser Automatic 40 Salmon watch is obviously its dial. We’ve seen the IWC Portugieser in most colours at this point, from red to green, blue, silver and black, but never have we seen it done before in a deep salmon colour. The salmon hue is created using a rose gold treatment on a sunray-brushed base which changes colour slightly depending on the light. For easy readability, the dial is joined by contrasting rhodium-plated Arabic numerals and box-shaped indexes and the well-known Portugieser feuille hands. The dial presents the hours and minutes at the centre and a subsidiary dial at 6 o’clock for the small seconds.
Powering the IWC Portugieser Automatic 40 Salmon watch is one of IWC’s own in-house movements, the Calibre 82200. With a Pellaton automatic winding system, it has a selection of ceramic parts for increased durability and impresses with a weekend-proof power reserve of 60 hours. There’s also 31 jewels and it runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour. As mentioned, you can admire the movement from the case back of the IWC Portugieser Automatic 40 Salmon watch when it’s off your wrist.
If you’d like to learn more about the IWC Portugieser Automatic 40 Salmon watch and shop the design for yourself, head over to the C W Sellors website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or message at sales@cwsellors.com.
Specifications:
- Case Size: 40.4mm diameter x 12.4mm height
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Bezel: Fixed
- Glass: Convex sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Non-screw locked
- Case Back: Screwed with sapphire crystal
- Water Resistance: 30 metres
- Movement: Calibre 82200, in-house, automatic with Pellaton winding system
- Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds
- Power Reserve: 60 hours
- Jewels: 31
- Frequency: 28,800vph
- Dial: Sunray-brushed salmon with rhodium hands and numerals
- Strap: Black alligator leather
- Buckle: Folding, stainless steel
- RRP: £6,500
- Limited: No
- Reference: IW358313
