IWC

Portofino Watches

Since its establishment in 1868, the IWC Schaffhausen has been renowned for its superb quality pocket watches. With exquisite precision and sleek designs, the IWC watches are always appreciated by collectors. In 1981 the first Portofino pocket watch for the wrist was introduced and gained massive popularity. Seeing the success of the first model, IWC released the full collection in 1984. 

The IWC Portofino watch is amongst the most successful IWC watches that are highly admired by both men and women. One of the key design features with the Caliber 5251 is the sub-dial moon phase. It is still being featured in some models of the current collection today. The IWC Portofino watch is a complete package of remarkable craftsmanship and sophisticated style, making it a perfect choice for your own watch collection.

The IWC brand is renowned for its classic and elegant watches. The company was founded in Schaffhausen Switzerland by an American watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones in 1868. With the aim to produce high-quality watches for the American market,  IWC launched quite a number of renowned pocket watches and dress watches that has successfully stand it out from the other watchmaker brands. 

Introduction of IWC Portofino Collection

For more than three decades, the IWC Portofino has remained popular as one family member of the IWC watches. Portofino is a fishing village in Italy. It is located on the Italian Riviera coastline, southeast of Genoa city. IWC take its lifestyle as the inspiration for its Portofino collection and created a series of classic watches that highlight elegance in design. 

In 1984 IWC released its first model of Portofino collection, reference 5251. The IWC Portofino 5251 watch was considered as the most elegant watch of its time. This watch perfectly blended bold design elements like an oversized case along with a smoothly slim profile. It also featured the unique long Breguet-style hands and elongated Roman numeral indices. 

One of the main features that stand this IWC watch out from its fellows was the moon phase complication display placed at its three o'clock position on the dial. This moon image was spectacularly plated in gold and was displayed on a backdrop of blue. The combination of its white subdial and the golden moon had brought a fabulously attractive contrast that got an interesting nickname as “The Fried Egg”. 

The Evolution of IWC Portofino Models

 A few years later in 1988, IWC released new Portofino models with references 3730 and 3731. Seeing the rise of quartz watches, they were powered by the updated Jaeger LeCoultre Mechaquartz Calibre 631. This IWC Portofino Chronograph Quartz featured a rotating date display function. It also offered the models available for the ladies as well. 

The IWC Portofino reference 2010 was released in 1993. It was distinguished from the rest of the IWC family line as the slimmest and the most delicate timepiece at the time. It was only 1.85 mm in thickness. This IWC watch was powered by the ultra-slim hand-wound movement H/849. However, this model was in production only from 1993 to 2005. 

IWC always strives for the best craftsmanship and innovation for their watches. In 1995, the brand released the thinnest perpetual calendar watch in the world at the time. This IWC Romana reference 2050 model was a hand-wound watch that featured a perpetual calendar with a refined design. It was part of the IWC Portofino family from 1995 to 2001. 

2003 saw the birth of the first IWC Portofino automatic watches. To address the feedback from its admirers, IWC introduced the IWC Portofino Automatic reference 3533 model. Its case size had been enlarged to 38 mm while maintaining its discreet look. It gained immediate popularity from the mass for its classical design and contemporary size. 

To celebrate the brand’s 140th birthday, IWC released a special re-edition vintage model for each of its collection families, including the Portofino, of course. In order to revive the original elegance, the special IWC Portofino Vintage re-edition model featured its long-lost moon phase complication along with Roman numerals on the dial. It displayed the lunar phase at its 12 o’clock position and the seconds at its 6 o’clock position. The watch was powered by its in-house 98800 Calibre movement. 

Introduced in its new 2011 collection, the IWC Portofino Hand-Wound Eight Days model came with the reference 5101. Just like the name suggested, the watch featured a Calibre 59210 movement that offers a power reserve of 8 days.

To cater to the needs of the customers with a smaller wrist, IWC released its mid-sized watches including a IWC Portofino Automatic 37 model in 2014. With a case size of moderate 37 mm, these watches are delicate and elegant that are also perfect on a lady’s wrist.

2017 witnessed the release of the remarkable IWC Portofino Hand-Wound Moon Phase. It was introduced as a tribute to its previous Portofino models such as Ref. 5251. These updated versions of the IWC Portofino chronograph watch featured the same moon phase complication and powered the latest in-house manufactured calibre 59800. 

IWC celebrated its 150th Anniversary in 2018 with a handful of new models for its several collections, including the IWC Portofino. The newer models featured white or blue lacquer dials and Roman numerals with complete leaf-shaped hour-and-minute hands. These IWC Portofino watches are equipped with a 40mm stainless steel case and housed the calibre 35111 movement. The back case of this IWC special edition has an engraving marking of the words "150 years" and is limited to just 2000 pieces. 

These beautiful and drool-worthy models from the IWC Portofino collection are one of the everyday watches. So if you are looking for some luxury watches that you can go along with every occasion, these IWC watches will be an amazing choice for you.