IWC Portofino

For three decades, IWC Schaffhausen has delighted the watch world with a steady stream of new pieces from its Portofino series. These models reflect the easygoing Mediterranean lifestyle of the Italian village of the same name – a deluxe travel tip. Here, the spirit of elegant luxury watches is concentrated in one place.

A tribute to the romantic coastal village

With just 500 residents, this small community on the Ligurian coast cherishes the "La Dolce Vita" feeling. Despite its small size, the town has a lot to offer: luxury boutiques, yachts, top hotels... The rich and famous have long since discovered the value of this former fishing village in the Gulf of Tigullio, so much so that it is now often mentioned in the same breath as Monaco or Nice. But it is not only the luxury that makes this place so special. The colorful landscape with its pine, olive, and cypress groves, as well as the adjacent sea, appears like something out of a picture book and invites you to dream. The many small, colorful houses, small cafés, and the picturesque natural harbor also contribute to the beautiful overall picture. Added to this are impressive sights such as the Church of San Giorgio and the magnificent Castello Brown, which towers above Portofino in the middle of a magnificent park. With its antique flair and unparalleled panoramic views, the castle is a sought-after location, especially for weddings. The fortress, with its famous castle museum, is also frequently booked for various exhibitions. If you ever make it to Portofino, the village and the surrounding countryside should definitely be explored on foot, as the magnificent flora and fauna can only be truly appreciated on a long hike along the tip of the peninsula or through the nature park. There's no question that Portofino's magical idyll will inspire wanderlust.

Portofino feeling for your wrist

With its classically elegant Portofino timepieces, IWC Schaffhausen has for decades made it its mission to capture the light, carefree flair of this special place, which has lost none of its magic over the years, and to delight watch fans with it. They have succeeded in doing so, as the enduring Portofino collection is one of the manufacturer's ongoing success factors. It appeals to men and women alike. The enduring demand for classic models and purist design also benefits the Portofino models, as the unfussy dial with Roman numerals and stick indices and the slender leaf-shaped hands fit perfectly into this scheme. The design origins of the series lie in the 1970s, when the IWC Lépine pocket watch was chosen as the model for the Portofino collection – this is how the voluminous yet minimalist case design came about. The puristic pocket watch for the wrist was finally introduced in 1984 and has been part of IWC's repertoire ever since.

Unique engraving as the icing on the cake of the wristwatches

Sailing into the idyllic harbor of Portofino, you'll witness a truly extraordinary view. The small Italian coastal village seems as if time has stood still. IWC Schaffhausen has captured precisely this special moment on select models from the Portofino collection with a unique caseback engraving—thus literally preserving the magic of this holiday destination in the watches.

The anniversary editions of the classics

The Portofino Hand Wound Moon Phase was launched in 1984 and reissued in 2017. This homage to the classic watch also features a beautiful and extremely precise moon phase display at 12 o'clock and is powered by the hand-wound 59800 movement. Its power reserve lasts an impressive eight days from winding. The simple dial with its date, small seconds, power reserve, and moon phase display exudes the timeless elegance typical of Portofino watches. The transparent sapphire crystal case back allows a glimpse into the impressive movement, as well as the plates and bridges with their various decorative finishes. The Hand Wound Moon Phase is available with a stainless steel or rose gold case, and with a silver-plated or slate-gray dial. This elegant timepiece is complemented by a dark brown strap made of the finest alligator leather by the Italian manufacturer Santoni. The special 150 Years Edition is also available in a sophisticated shade of blue—either as accents or for the entire dial. This timepiece is paired with a black alligator leather strap. However, these models are strictly limited – some to just 150 pieces. You'll want to act fast if you want to claim one of these treasures for yourself. The Portofino Automatic also recently underwent an update: The 2018 Portofino Automatic Edition 150 Years also comes in the incomparable version with blued accents or a full dial and a black alligator leather strap.

This classic automatic watch won't let its wearer down thanks to its robust and reliable automatic movement. With its three hands, discreet date display, and round, sleek case, the Automatic has been one of the most popular Portofinos for many years. The new edition models are limited to 2,000 pieces each.

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