IWC PORTUGUESE PERPETUAL CALENDAR II AUTOMATIC 18K WHITE GOLD NEW

The best idea that the International Watch Company – IWC – ever had was converting a Portuguese customer’s pocket watch movement into a wristwatch, in the early decades of the twentieth century. Flash forward to 1993, when IWC commercialized the idea with the Jubilee Portuguese (named after the nationality of the original converted watch’s owner), which was a limited edition. By the late 1990s, they started offering the Portuguese as an automatic chronograph and also as a smaller dress watch.

Today, the Portuguese line has expanded to many models. This Portuguese proudly features the firm’s proprietary Caliber 51613, which has a 7 day power reserve and the patented Pellaton automatic winding system. This winding system is named after Albert Pellaton, IWC’s head engineer in the 1940s, who invented the technology. Basically, the movement generates an 8.5 day power reserve, which IWC limits to 7 days, to keep the watch running with the optimal amount of power in its system. IWC has its own timing standards, which are stricter than the C.O.S.C.’s chronometer specifications, and they found that the movement is most accurate operating with up to 7 days of power in the system (and loses accuracy if permitted to run until the end of its capacity of 8.5 days of power). Movement has 62 jewels and is adjusted to 5 positions.

This model IW502218 is a perpetual calendar with stunning gray dial with applied white gold arabic numerals and hour markers. Moonphase display at 12 o’clock; date and number of days of power reserve displayed at 3 o’clock; month is at 6 o’clock; year in 4 digits is displayed between 7 and 8 o’clock; while 9 o’clock subdial displays seconds and day. Huge white gold sword hands.

The case is always a highlight with IWC watches, and they save their best work for the Portuguese cases. Not only is the case a pleasingly massive 42.3mm in diameter by 16mm thick, but the fit and finish is extraordinarly good. The case finish alternates between polished and brushed surfaces. Crystals are sapphire front and back. The bezels on the front of the case and the case back are both very narrow, which essentially means you are wearing the watch’s beautiful dial on the front, and the display back offers a view of the movement unimpeded by a wide bezel. The crown is signed with IWC’s famous “Probus Scafusia”.

Strap is brown IWC crocodile with 18k white gold IWC deployment clasp.

Let me tell you, this watch is a pleasure to own, wear and simply stare at. You’ll find yourself making excuses to your spouse and friends about why you’re staring at your watch and not them!

Watch is new with box and undated IWC Guarantee card.