IWC first manufactured the Portuguese watch in the early 1930’s. Two businessmen from Portugal inspired IWC’s watchmakers in Schaffhausen to design the Portuguese wrist watch. The Portuguese was reintroduced in 1993 as a limited edition. Over the next twelve years IWC introduced six more versions. The Portuguese collection now consists of the Automatic 2000, Chrono-Autotmatic, Minute Repeater, Perpetual Calendar, and Tourbillon.

Watch collectors are drawn to the Portuguese partially for it’s elegant round case. The Portuguese Automatic showcases this well with a classic and clean design. The 42.30mm case has two sub dials, one for the seconds and one for the seven day power reserve. The date window is carefully set at six o’clock. The Arabic hour markers are small enough to not clutter the dial but large enough to easily read. IWC offers the Automatic Portuguese in steel, rose gold and platinum. The Chrono-Automatic Portuguese shares the same clean design as the Automatic but the chrono seconds and hour sub dials are set at twelve and six o’clock. Both versions are available with white or black dials.

The most recent addition to the line is the F.A Jones Edition. IWC designed this watch to honor Mr. Florentine Ariosto Jones, the watchmaker from Boston who founded the company. This watch is destined to become a collector’s timepiece. The case and oversized oval shaped crown give this watch a distinctively antique wrist watch feel. The white dial is set with large hour markers with a beautiful font that has a very 1920’s retro look. The IWC logo and Mr. Jones signature are set below the twelve o’clock marker.

The Portuguese Minute Repeater is available in both a skeleton and non skeleton version. The skeleton Minute Repeater is an amazing masterpiece of watch making. Every movement of the watch is visible from the front and back of the case. IWC’s Portuguese Perpetual Calendar is the next timepiece in the collection. Only available in rose gold with a black dial the Perpetual Calendar tracks the date, day, month, and moon phase. It has a seven day power reserve indicator and a second’s sub dial.