The story behind this IWC Portugieser Annual Calendar
The House of IWC has unveiled the reference IW503502 in honour of the 75th anniversary of its legendary collection. This creation introduces a new complication for the Manufacture. It offers a clear reading of the calendar and requires only one manual correction per year, at the end of February. The dial displays a fascinating detail in its 3 windows located at 12 o'clock. The reading order shows the month first, then the date and finally the day. This atypical layout in the Swiss industry is a direct and deliberate tribute to Florentine Ariosto Jones. This visionary American engineer left Boston to found the Manufacture on the banks of the Rhine in 1868. This technical choice intimately links 21st century mechanical innovation with the brand's distant roots.
Case, calibre and bracelet of this Portugieser Annual Calendar
The stainless steel case measures 44.2 mm in diameter and is 15.3 mm thick. Its case middle subtly alternates between a polished bezel and brushed sides. A domed sapphire crystal, anti-reflective on both sides, protects a sumptuous midnight-blue dial with a sunray finish. Applied Arabic numerals and leaf-shaped hands complement the classic railway minute track. Three windows dominate the upper part to display the annual calendar. They are harmoniously balanced by the small seconds and power reserve indicator. The transparent sapphire caseback reveals the architecture of the 52850 calibre. This self-winding movement beats at a frequency of 4 Hz and comprises 326 components, including 36 jewels. Its heavy skeletonised rotor loads a double barrel via the Pellaton system to ensure a 7-day power reserve. The watch is water-resistant to 30 metres. It is adorned with a black alligator leather strap fastened by a steel folding clasp.
Why this IWC watch
This timepiece represents a major technical milestone in the development of complications by the Schaffhausen manufacture. The contrast between the brilliance of the steel and the deep blue of the dial offers an aesthetic highly sought after by lovers of fine watchmaking. The integration of the annual calendar strikes a perfect balance between high mechanical complexity and intuitive everyday use. The absence of unsightly correctors on the sides of the case proves the superiority of its design. Acquiring this timepiece on the second-hand market means owning a historic milestone in contemporary watchmaking. It combines a statutory presence on the wrist with undeniable cutting-edge engineering.
Delivered contents and condition
This March 2018 model comes in remarkable aesthetic and mechanical condition. Our watchmakers have meticulously polished it in our workshops to restore the steel case surfaces to their original lustre. The watch is delivered with its complete set including its original case, specific user manual and international warranty card. Slight signs of external wear are minimal. The case and alligator leather strap remain in excellent overall condition. This piece is ready to begin a new chapter on the wrist of a discerning collector.
Guarantee and delivery
The Swiss Collector guarantees the authenticity of this piece. We offer a 24-month guarantee on this model. We accept returns within 10 days according to our conditions. As Switzerland's leading second-hand retailer with the largest network of boutiques, we offer online booking for fitting and collection on site or fully secure international shipping.
* Very good condition - watch already worn and polished. Slight signs of external wear. Case and bracelet in excellent condition overall.
