IWC 2020 Watch Releases

This year, IWC have singled out an entire model range for a complete makeover; meet the new 2020 IWC Portugieser watch collection. With a quiet confidence that is set to stun, these stunning new automatics remain a staple for the whole industry and as CEO Chris Grainger-Herr refers to them: the “heart” of IWC.

The IWC Portugieser collection and its history deserves an entire feature of its own. It’s origin dates back to the 1930s when two Portuguese gentlemen visited the IWC headquarters in Schaffhausen and ordered wrist watches with the precision of a marine chronometer. Creating something with such perfect legibility and only the highest precision was not an easy feat, and the only way of meeting the request was with their Caliber 74 hunter pocket watch movement. Half a century later, the IWC Portugieser would play another vital role during the renaissance of mechanical watchmaking following the end of the quartz crisis.

Today, the IWC Portugieser remains legendary and alongside their pilot’s collection is arguably one of their biggest and most successful releases. For 2020, IWC present us with an extraordinary list of exciting models to reveal to you, from stunning new chronographs to perpetual calendar designs, new Yacht Club models and special Boutique Editions. Let’s take a look at all the latest IWC 2020 watch releases in more detail…

IWC Portugieser Chronograph

First up is the classic IWC Portugieser Chronograph, a must-have timepiece for any luxury watch collector. Since its original release 22 years ago, we have seen very few changes made to the design, but for 2020, we are seeing one of the biggest amendments to date. For the first time, the IWC Portugieser Chronograph will showcase a manufacture calibre movement.

The Calibre 69355 comes housed within 41mm stainless steel or 18 carat rose gold case paired with a choice of a silver, blue, black, burgundy, slate grey or green coloured dial. The dials are beautifully detailed with a sunburst pattern and complimented by black, blue or brown alligator leather straps. There is an IWC Portugieser Chronograph Boutique Edition as part of the new collection which features an 18 carat gold case, navy blue dial and blue alligator leather band. As with all IWC Boutique Edition watches, these are available to buy in IWC boutiques only.

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IWC Portugieser Automatic 40

An entirely new time-only variant, the IWC Portugieser Automatic watch collection now comes in a new, smaller 40mm case in stainless steel or 18 carat rose gold. With it, we still have the classic small seconds sub dial at 6 o’ clock powered by the in-house Calibre 82200. The automatic winding movement impresses with a 60 hour power reserve, frequency of 28,800vph, 31 jewels and stunning Côtes de Genève decoration which can be seen through the exhibition case back.

The new IWC Portugieser Automatic 40 watches are available in four variations with the stainless steel case presented with a silver dial with gold appliques, silver dial with blue appliques or a blue dial with silver appliques. The star of the show for us is the 18 carat rose gold version accented by a stunning silver and gold dial and a dark brown alligator leather strap. 

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IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar

First developed by Kurt Klaus in the 1980s, IWC’s perpetual calendar complication is still going strong. This year, the IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar measures in at 42.4mm pleasing many of us smaller wrist folk who have found the regular 44.2mm a little too big. Paired with the smaller profile is the Calibre 82650 self-winding movement which provides a 60 hour power reserve and perpetual calendar with displays for the date, day, month, leap year and perpetual moon phase.

Once again, the new range of 42mm IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar watches are available in stainless steel or 18 carat gold with a silver or blue dial. Alongside this collection, we are also treated to a new IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar Boutique Edition which measures to a slightly larger 44.2mm and boasts an 18 carat rose gold case, blue dial and blue alligator leather strap.

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IWC Portugieser Yacht Club

We have two new additions to the IWC Portugieser Yacht Club watch collection, and both have impressed. First up is the Portugieser Yacht Club Chronograph, the third generation of the series which is currently available in three 44.6mm variations. The first showcases a stunning two toned steel and 18 carat gold case with a silver and gold accented dial. The second comes in steel with a silver dial with blue appliques and the third similarly features a steel case but with a blue dial and silver appliques.

Our favourite addition of the two new IWC Portugieser Yacht Club models is undoubtedly the IWC Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide, an impressive piece with a novel tide indication at 6 o’clock. The unique complication allows wearers to observe expected time for the next high and low tide while the dual moonphase feature at 12 o’clock now includes the ability to display spring and neap tides. The piece boasts a 44.6mm 18 carat rose gold case, blue dial and nautical blue rubber strap with textile inlay.

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IWC Portugieser Tourbillons

Last but certainly not least, IWC have topped off their 2020 watch releases with two new highly complicated tourbillon timepieces. The first is the Portugieser Tourbillon Rétrograde Chronograph available in a 43mm 18 carat gold or 950 platinum case which houses the in-house IWC 89900 manufactured movement. The calibre showcases a remarkable range of features including a self-winding flying hacking minute tourbillon, fly back chronograph, retrograde date display and hour and minute counters combined in a totalizer at 12 o’clock.

The second model is the IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon, also available in 18 carat gold or 950 platinum. This piece is breathtaking and proves once again why IWC are considered one of the best watchmakers in the industry. It unites two sophisticated Haute Horlogerie complications, the flying minute tourbillon and the perpetual calendar with displays for the date, day, month, year in four digits and perpetual moon phase all powered by the IWC-manufactured 51950 calibre.