The Watch: The Portugieser line traces to the late 1930s, when two Portuguese watch importers commissioned IWC to produce wristwatches with the accuracy of marine chronometers. The solution was to put a pocket watch movement into a wristwatch case, which resulted in the oversized proportions and clean dial layout that have defined the Portugieser ever since. The Hand-Wound variants stay closest to that original design intent.
Reference IW545406 is the Portugieser Hand-Wound in 18k rose gold with the "Ardoise" slate grey dial. The case measures 44mm at 10mm thick, with the polished rose gold case complementing applied polished rose gold Arabic numeral hour markers, leaf-shaped rose gold hands, and a small seconds sub-dial at 6 o'clock with a contrasting red "60" marker. The white minute track with five-minute index markers extends to the railroad-track outer edge.
Inside is the caliber 98295, a Lépine-architecture hand-wound movement that traces its design lineage to high-grade pocket watch calibers. It beats at the deliberately traditional rate of 18,000 vph (2.5 Hz) with 18 jewels and a 46-hour power reserve. The lower beat rate gives the seconds hand a more languid, traditional sweep that suits the dressy character of the watch. The massive movement is decorated with Côtes de Genève and visible through the sapphire caseback.
This example shows slight discoloration on the hands. Otherwise in good condition with box and papers.
Condition: Good condition. Box is peeling. For provenance only.
