2012 IWC Portuguese Automatic 7 Days 42mm IW500114
Ref: IW500114
Specification
Lugs : 22mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : Box & Papers
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold with its original IWC presentation box and card. It comes paired with a 22mm IWC Alligator leather strap with an IWC-signed folding clasp. The watch is from April 2012 and is in worn condition, but it is good overall; as you can see in the photos. The date window alignment is slightly off. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1utwXTHDQo2MEiQC0ukS7b5HXV-Kr_A-f?usp=drive_link
4K YouTube video, skip to 2:39 - https://youtu.be/6laT_LnIfOc
The Watch
Here we have a 2012 IWC Portuguese Automatic 7 Days 42mm IW500114 that takes its inspiration from the beautifully balanced 1930s Portugieser Reference 325 timepieces, with a sculpted 42mm polished and brushed stainless steel case that gently curves over your wrist with thick tapered lugs and the perfectly brushed and polished flanks lead to a lug-to-lug length of 50.5mm and a case thickness of 14mm that ensures a comfortable fit. On the right side is a signed crown, and a polished bezel holds a convex sapphire crystal AR coated on both sides above a silver dial. An outer Railway minute track is precisely executed surrounding applied gold Arabic numerals marking the hours; at 6 o’clock, a colour-matched date window; at 3 o’clock, a 7-day power reserve with a pop of red at the 7th day; and at 9 o’clock, a small seconds each with a gold tapered hand, elegant gold leaf hands perfectly balance this attractive timepiece. At 12 o’clock we have the IWC motif and at 6 o’clock “Automatic”. On the reverse, a screw-down sapphire crystal exhibition case back showcasing an Automatic IWC Cal. 51011, 42 jewels, beating at 21,600 beats per hour. This movement comprises 326 components and has a bidirectional Pellaton pawl-winding system with two barrels, giving it a 7-day power reserve. The rotor has an 18ct gold medallion, and the movement is decorated with Côtes de Genève and nickel plating. The watch comes paired with a 22mm IWC Alligator leather strap with a signed folding clasp, and it comes with its IWC presentation box and card.
Personal Note
This now discontinued IWC Portuguese Automatic, reference IW500114, features an incredible 7 day power reserve as displayed at 3o'clock and comes in at an impressive 42mm. Whilst it certainly doesn't wear small on the wrist, it is very compact and easy to wear considering the impressive power reserve and movement that fills the case beautifully as you can see through the exhibition case back. You will struggle to find a better-priced example in Europe for this watch, so snap it up whilst you can and add it to your collection today!
The Brand
Florentine Aristo Jones founded IWC in 1868. In 1867, he applied for a European passport with the ambition to create watches using the American system of Watchmaking. This system was derived from the Federal Armories at Springfield and Harpers Ferry. High-precision interchangeable parts were needed for armaments, and this was perfect for use in watchmaking. Florentine was a pioneer in introducing it to the Swiss. In 1868, Florentine and Charles Kidder ended up in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. Originally called the company F. A Jones & Co, which was later changed to IWC International Watch Company. Florentine returned to the USA in 1876, where he retired and sadly passed away in 1916. His spirit carries on today in the modern IWC watches. The IWC Portugieser was first introduced way back in 1939 when two businessmen, Rodrigues and Texeira, visited the factory in Schaffhausen. They had an unusual request: they required a marine chronometer in the form of a wristwatch. IWC got to work and created a 43mm, stainless steel watch with a hand-wound Cal.74 pocket watch movement. This was very large for the time, with 33mm being the norm for a wristwatch. It had Arabic numerals, an almost non-existent bezel, and slim leaf-shaped hands, seconds subdial at 6 o’clock. Only 304 pieces were ever created with the Cal.74 movement. Since then, the IWC Portugieser has become one of IWC's most iconic and best-selling.