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24. Juni 2026 - Basel Watch Auction
from the original owner
What makes IWC particularly distinctive is its unique position as an American-founded manufacture in the heart of Switzerland, bringing together Anglo-Saxon precision with Swiss craftsmanship. The Portugieser collection emerged from a remarkable story in 1938–1939. Two Portuguese businessmen, Rodrigues and Teixeira, approached IWC with an unusual request: they wanted wristwatches with the precision of marine chronometers. IWC responded by adapting their pocket watch caliber 74 into a wristwatch case, creating timepieces of exceptional size for that era – 41,5 mm when most watches measured around 32 mm. This bold approach resulted in watches of extraordinary precision and legibility.
The Portugieser collection quickly became legendary for its clean, uncluttered dial design and its remarkable accuracy. The collection disappeared for several decades before being revived in the 1990s, when it became one of IWC’s most celebrated lines.
Several houses illustrate this type of horological heritage beautifully. The Portugieser collection demonstrates how technical innovation can create timeless aesthetic codes that endure across generations.
IWC
“Portugieser”, Perpetual Calendar, Ref. IW503401, No. 6017981, circa 2016
A 18k white gold automatic wristwatch with perpetual calendar and moon phases, 7 days power reserve
Case: round, transparent case back with screws, signed and numbered
Dial: dark blue with applied Arabic numerals, outer minute track, three registers for the date indication, power reserve 7 days at 3, months indication at 6, and subsidiary seconds and days of the week at 9, aperture for the moon phases at 12, four digit disc for the year indication, signed
Movement: automatic, open rotor with logo and brand signature, 7 days power reserve, 54 jewels, signed
Buckle/Clasp: 18k white gold deployant clasp, signed
Dimensions: 44 mm
Weight: 166 g
Accessories: warranty card dated 16.04.2016, presentation box and outer card box, Portugieser perpetual calendar operating instructions leaflet, warranty service leaflet and goodies like cloth to clean the watch, red sealed capsule for year indications
CHF 12'000 – 16'000
Verkauft fürCHF 15'243
from the original owner
What makes IWC particularly distinctive is its unique position as an American-founded manufacture in the heart of Switzerland, bringing together Anglo-Saxon precision with Swiss craftsmanship. The Portugieser collection emerged from a remarkable story in 1938–1939. Two Portuguese businessmen, Rodrigues and Teixeira, approached IWC with an unusual request: they wanted wristwatches with the precision of marine chronometers. IWC responded by adapting their pocket watch caliber 74 into a wristwatch case, creating timepieces of exceptional size for that era – 41,5 mm when most watches measured around 32 mm. This bold approach resulted in watches of extraordinary precision and legibility.
The Portugieser collection quickly became legendary for its clean, uncluttered dial design and its remarkable accuracy. The collection disappeared for several decades before being revived in the 1990s, when it became one of IWC’s most celebrated lines.
Several houses illustrate this type of horological heritage beautifully. The Portugieser collection demonstrates how technical innovation can create timeless aesthetic codes that endure across generations.