IWC Portugieser Automatic IW501701 Watch

The origins of the Portugieser date back to the late 1930s, when IWC Schaffhausen used a high-precision pocket watch movement to create a distinctively large wristwatch with chronometer precision. First introduced in 2000, the Portugieser Automatic 42 features an open, balanced dial, with a power reserve indicator at 3 o'clock and the small seconds positioned on the opposite side at 9 o'clock. This version features a stainless-steel case with a diameter of 42.4 millimetres, a silver-plated dial, and gold-plated hands and appliques. A highlight is the intricately crafted dial, which is manufactured in a complex process comprising 60 individual steps. The unusual optical depth is created by applying 15 layers of transparent lacquer, which is fine-ground and then polished to a high gloss finish. The sub dials are milled into both the brass blank and the lacquer layer. A special printing process further enhances the three-dimensional effect. Finally, the appliques are individually mounted on the dial by hand. The watch is fitted with a black alligator leather strap with a stainless-steel folding clasp.