A Guide to the Best IWC Watches to Gift this Christmas 2022

Our specialist team of luxury watch enthusiasts here at Jura Watches have compiled this neat little guide to the best IWC watches to buy this Christmas 2022. Whether you’re purchasing for yourself or looking for the ultimate gift idea for a loved one who adores the IWC classic pilot watch style or the elegance and simplicity of the Portofino watch – this guide to the best IWC watches to gift this Christmas is the place to come for all your gifting inspiration this festive season.

Pioneer of the luxury watch industry IWC Schaffhausen is a master in its area of expertise - manufacturing watches with Swiss craftsmanship fused with cutting-edge American engineering. Pushing the boundaries of innovation, the Maison is one of the world’s most prolific watchmaking companies and prides itself on its commercial and military contracts without needing to rely on celebrity endorsements or marketing budgets. If you or your loved one are really interested in design, IWC watches are a great investment. IWC watches are also great investments.

IWC pilot’s watches have received cult status over the years, whilst the Portugieser line is home to some of the company’s most impressive horological innovations. The company is known worldwide for many exquisite designs such as the Ingenieur, designed by no other than Gerald Genta in the 1970s. It was one of many wristwatches released during the 1950s known for its protection against magnetic fields. Other popular models include the Portofino watch, recognised for its simplicity and its elegance (be that a three-handed model or chronograph) and, of course, the Portugieser watch, which traces its roots right back to the 1930s. Let’s have a look at some of the best IWC watches to buy as a gift this Christmas 2022…

The IWC Portofino Automatic Day & Night watch ref IW459801

Because of its restrained design, the IWC Portofino watch is a perfect Christmas gift idea for those who enjoy the pared-back and simple layout of a three-handed dial. That said, there are other variations from this collection that communicate the same simplicity through chronograph complications, a moon phase indicator and even a Day & Night version. The IWC Portofino Automatic Day & Night watch is a 34mm polished stainless steel model that adheres to the clean and elegant dress watch codes with a stylish taupe-brown leather strap and a traditional pin buckle fastening. This 50-meter water-resistant model features a closed steel caseback that conceals the performing Calibre 35180 with an autonomy of a 50-hour power reserve. A small disc at 6 o’clock indicates whether it is currently day or night. At noon or midnight, the sun or the moon will appear in the upper area of the display in shimmering tones of gold against a silver dial. The model is also integrated with the brand’s patented quick-change system enabling your loved one to alternate the watch with another strap choice as and when she requires, without the hassle of additional strap-changing tools.

The IWC Portofino Chronograph 39 watch ref IW391502

As mentioned, the IWC Portofino watch comes in different varieties including an elegant chronograph complication. Housed in a 39mm case, the IWC Portofino Chronograph 39 is a manageable timepiece that combines classic design elements with sporty undertones. The stainless steel model is powered by the in-house Calibre 69355, positioned behind a sapphire-backed case. It propels a set of rhodium-coated hands around a silver-plated dial whilst measuring stop times up to 30 minutes. The classic column wheel chronograph movement sits inside a stainless steel case integrated with a water resistance of 50 meters. Perfect for those who like to stay classic but enjoy the added technical appeal of a complication or two, this IWC Portofino Chronograph 39 watch features a 30-minute sub-counter at 12 o’clock, a small second sub-dial at 6 o’clock and a stylish beige calfskin strap that secures with a refined stainless steel buckle.

The IWC Portugieser Automatic watch ref IW500715

The blue and silver panda dial of the IWC Portugieser Automatic watch is one of its most appealing features. Sporty yet classic, the model will appeal to those who have long adored the elegant style of IWC’s varied and diverse Portugieser watch collection but also those new to this collection. The watch measures a diameter of 42.3mm and is crafted from stainless steel. Its silver-plated dial features crisp deep blue Arabic numerals in the same colour as the small counters placed in a bi-compax layout on an east-west axis. These sub-dials represent a power reserve indicator and a small second sub-counter respectively. Balancing both small counters perfectly is a legible date window located at 6 o’clock. The watch is powered by the IWC Calibre 52010, which comprises a total of 257 hand-assembled parts and provides an impressive 168-hour power reserve. Finished with beautiful Cotes de Geneva perlage, the movement can be viewed through a sapphire exhibition caseback in this elegant IWC Portugieser watch design, completed on a deep blue alligator leather band.

The IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XX watch ref IW328203

Pilot watch fans will adore the classic look of this stylish IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XX, dressed in a deep blue outfit. The utilitarian tool watch reduces the design and technical functionality of a pilot's watch to its pure essence. The pilot watch instrument is a successor to the Mark 11, which was developed back in 1948 for the navigators and pilots of the British Royal Air Force. Its 40mm stainless steel case construction frames a blue dial with rhodium-plated hands, crisp Arabic numeral hour markers treated in Super-LumiNova and the instantly recognisable triangular index located at 12 o’clock on the dial. The watch’s 32111 calibre with automatic winding and a power reserve of 120 hours promises reliability and precision all through the day and night, whilst a stylish deep blue calfskin strap completes its traditional feel. The model is also integrated with the company’s X-CHANGE strap system and features a specially engraved caseback for true pilot watch fans. 

The IWC Aquatimer Automatic watch ref IW328802

One of the most recent additions to the IWC Aquatimer watch line is this automatic 42mm model crafted from stainless steel and equipped with an impressive water resistance of 300 meters for plenty of underwater exploration. The model offers the diver a crisp black dial with luminous-coated hands and indexes that glow richly when venturing down to dark, daring underwater depths. The IWC Ingenieur watch is not just a Christmas gift idea for those who frequently dive either. Many watch enthusiasts love the look of the classic dive watch regardless of whether they frequently take to the water or not. The IWC Ingenieur watch is a modern take on the classic dive watch and features contemporary baton hour markers, straight hands, a date window at 3 o’clock and the first 15 minutes of dive time outlined in a mint green hue. The unidirectional rotating bezel for this IWC dive watch is designed to eradicate the risk of accidentally extending dive time whilst its supple black rubber strap is fast-drying when dipping in and out of the water. It’s a great choice for sporty individuals as well as diving watch fans and comes with a quick-change strap system too.

The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch 43 TOP GUN watch ref IW329801

The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch 43 TOP GUN is a collectable that has been a staple within the company’s catalogue since 2012. Its ultra-tough and scratch-resistant black ceramic case creates a modern, stealthy look on the wrist whilst the dial itself meets all the core standards you would expect from a luxury pilot’s watch. Ideal as a Christmas 2022 gift idea for pilot’s watch fans. The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch 43 TOP GUN model has a specially engraved caseback, a TOP GUN logo-engraved titanium crown, and is powered by the IWC-manufactured 82100. This engine delivers a power reserve of 60 hours and boasts a Pellaton winding system that has been reinforced with ceramic components.  This beating heart is also protected from magnetic damage by a soft iron inner core. This Christmas gift idea for 2022 is fitted on a black textile strap and features a sleek black dial from which luminous white hour markers and hands can legibly stand out against.

The IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 watch ref IW388109

Last but not least, the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 has a lot to offer the sporty pilot watch fan. Its case has been crafted from bronze, creating a distinctive retro-inspired look across the wrist. The model measures 41mm and features a deep blue dial to match the colour of the watch’s blue textile strap. On the display, a trio of chronograph sub-counters can be found at 6, 9 and 12 o’clock offering small seconds, 12-hour and 30-minute functions. These features, together with a red-coated sub-dial hand at 6 o’clock and a day date window at 3 o’clock are all protected by a strong pane of scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass. The bronze used by IWC also contains aluminium and iron. This specific composition makes the alloy around 50% harder than standard bronze.  Developing a patina of its own, this IWC watch certainly conveys a strong character on the wrist and builds up a power reserve of up to 46 hours in the mainspring thanks to a refined column wheel.

If you’d like more information on any of the IWC watches we’ve featured in this guide to the best IWC watches to buy as a gift this Christmas 2022, you can call and speak to a member of our Jura Watches sales team on 01335 453453