2020 IWC Portugieser Automatic 7 Days White 42mm IW500705
Ref: IW500705
Specification
Lugs : 22mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : Box & Papers
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : Manufacturer's Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold with its original IWC presentation box and original IWC paperwork, the watch was purchased in March 2020. The watch comes fitted on a 22mm IWC Alligator leather strap with an IWC-signed folding deployment clasp. The watch is in worn condition but is overall very good, see the photos. The watch comes with its Manufacturer's Warranty.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/18F2nCs-yC9lp6QhblFcyXkjaN7eeudj4?usp=drive_link
4K YouTube video, skip to 3:40 - https://youtu.be/Ncs99IJAnWs
The Watch
Here we have a 2020 IWC Portugieser Automatic 7 Days White IW500705 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 a lug-to-lug length of 50mm and a case thickness of 13.5mm 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 white dial. An outer Railway minute track is precisely executed surrounding applied blue Arabic numerals marking the hours, at 6 o’clock a date window, at 3 o’clock a 7-day power reserve and at 9 o’clock a small seconds each with concentric circle pattern and a blued tapered hand, elegant blued 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. 52010, 31 jewels, beating at 28,800 beats per hour, this movement is made up of 252 components and has an updated version of the bidirectional Pellaton pawl-winding system made from ceramic with two barrels giving it the 7-day power reserve, the rotor has an 18ct gold medallion and the movement is decorated with Geneva stripes. The watch comes paired with a 22mm IWC Alligator leather strap with a signed folding deployment clasp and the watch comes with its IWC presentation box and paperwork.
Personal Note
I initially thought this watch would be way too big on my wrist, but I was incredibly wrong, IWC have nailed the proportions and made a large but comfortable watch that packs a punch! This is one of those watches that looks classic and simple from the front, but as soon as you flip it over you are presented with a mesmerising 7-day automatic movement! I wouldn't hesitate to book an appointment and come see this watch for yourself!
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. Where high-precision interchangeable parts were needed for armaments. This was perfect to use in watchmaking and 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 2 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, a 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.