Introducing the IWC Portofino watches

Introducing the IWC Portofino watch collection – a line of beautifully balanced dials, perfect case proportions and a successful three-decade run that is still going strong…

The unmistakable look of a Portofino watch from IWC Schaffhausen is owed to its delicate Feuille hands, beautifully carved indexes and perfectly round case. These classic dress watches are loved for their simplicity. High-quality materials and in-house movements promise precision on the wrist, and the collection is also home to special editions that mark the manufacturer’s ambitious, history-steeped philosophy. Some of the top-end timepieces within the collection boast tourbillons and complex functions like Perpetual calendars.

Portofino watches are characterised by their delicate well-balanced and beautifully proportioned designs. The timepieces will appeal to those with a preference for minimalist, sophisticated dress watches that go without the flamboyancy and exuberant detailing frequently associated with luxury watches. Some models are rendered in 18ct gold, others are crafted from traditional stainless steel. There’s a versatile range of lady’s IWC Portofino watches to choose from and an even larger selection of men’s Portofino watches – each one imparting a luxurious yet practical feel once dressed on the wrist.

If you’ve been researching the best IWC Portofino watches, our selection here at CW Sellors Jura Watches is the best place to start browsing an impressive range. From chronographs with a day-date function to simple three-handed models, the Portofino watch collection has every type of watch-wearing individual covered.

IWC Schaffhausen Portofino watches have become a preferred choice of watch for professionals. You can put this down to the excellent standards upheld by the manufacturer each time they create a timepiece for this elegant dress watch collection. The convenient positioning of a date feature or the unique layout of a chronograph dial is sometimes all that sets this exquisite watchmaker apart when it comes to comparing it on the market with its competitors.

The very first Portofino watch debuted in 1984. This is an important point to note about the collection. When many manufacturers were recovering from the aftermath of the quartz crisis, brands were developing big and bold, edgy wristwatches design to grab attention. IWC Schaffhausen was one of the very few luxury watch manufacturers that didn’t take this approach. Instead, it focussed on doing what it knew best – developing simple Swiss timekeeping instruments from components that were built to last a lifetime. Straightforward timekeeping is an artform that IWC Schaffhausen mastered many years ago. When the Portofino landed it was described as a pocket watch for the wrist. In particular, the design of the Portofino watch is inspired by Jean-Antigone Lepine who created the famous Lepine pocket watch. The timepiece featured a large case that since went on to retain its value on the market, leading to its prominent position within IWC Schaffhausen’s core range.

When browsing our selection of IWC Portofino watches you’ll notice dials finished in a deep midnight blue, sophisticated silver-plated dials with elegant rose gold detailing, and classic black versions. The Portofino reference IW356502 is the perfect example of a timeless dress watch for all occasions. Whether wearing it underneath the cuff of a shirt in the office or pairing it with a suit for a black-tie event, the elongated stick markers around the hour track of this watch, together with slender carved Roman numerals (seen at 12 and 6 o’clock) perfectly underscore IWC’s understated and refined approach to watchmaking.

The specially engraved back of a Portofino watch, whether crafted from gold or stainless steel, sets the scene for the inspiration behind the classic dress watch. The neck of the Portofino harbour opens up into panoramic views of this picturesque fishing harbour on the Linguarian coast.

Hand-winding and self-winding versions from this collection power anything from the simple two-handed watch to complex perpetual calendars. IWC even put itself on the map for creating one of the thinnest perpetual calendars on the market between 1995 and 2001 with the reference 2050.

Today our current collection of Portofino watches includes chronograph models like the 42mm silver-plated and stainless steel mesh bracelet model reference: IW391028 and the reference IW391036, which features a dramatic blue dial and matching blue leather Santoni strap. Uniquely, the 12-6-9 location of the chronograph dial (with the 9 o’clock counter measuring a smaller size) makes way for a less imposing (but still clearly visible) day-date feature on the opposite side. There’s also the IWC Portofino Hand-Wound 8 Days watch reference IW510103 that beats to the rhythm of the Calibre 59210.  The remaining power of the movement can be read off the power reserve indicator displayed at 9 o’clock on a sumptuous silver-plated dial.

The IWC Portofino Automatic reference IW458111, on the other hand, is a design that will appeal to those with a preference for opulent timepieces. The 37mm boasts a bezel encrusted with round brilliant cut diamonds that add a halo of light around a rich midnight blue dial. It runs on an engine from the 35000 Calibre series. The 35111 movement is based on the Sellita SW300-1 Calibre, providing a 42-hour power reserve. Aside from housing a reliable beating heart, the dress watch is a companion that elevates the wrist with a formal, purist message.

Aside from the various dial colours to choose from, the Portofino collection also presents several strap and bracelet options. You can choose between a Milanaise mesh stainless steel bracelet, a vintage-inspired brown leather strap or a classic black leather band. The latter two options are crafted by Italian shoe manufacturer, Santoni. The secret of the successful Santoni strap is its nuanced shading with elaborate finishes that give each band a patina that looks ages whilst retaining a near-on new feel for years and years on the wrist.

You can check out the full range of Portofino watches by IWC Schaffhausen here, or call our specialist watch team at C W Sellors, who will be more than happy to guide you through the entire range available.