Portofino Midsize Automatic Moon Phase

IWC ADDS A SPARKLE TO THE WRIST  

NEW PORTOFINO MIDSIZE WATCHES COMPLEMENT THE PORTOFINO COLLECTION FROM IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN  

The new Midsize collection now makes the Portofino line from IWC Schaffhausen attractive to watch lovers who prefer a slightly smaller timepiece. With the Portofino Midsize Automatic  Moon Phase and the Portofino Midsize Automatic Day & Night, two radiant 37-millimetre beauties available  in seven different versions designed to reflect the timeless elegance of the Italian coastal resort  join the Swiss company’s watch family. Ten different Portofino Midsize Automatic models with 37-millimetre cases will be launched in 2014, available with or without a diamond-set bezel. Three Portofino Automatic versions  featuring 40-millimetre cases set with precious stones round off the dazzling display.  

The Portofino collection has been an expression of under-statement and good taste for 30 years. Thanks to its puristic, timeless design, the watch family has established itself as one of IWC Schaffhausen’s most successful families and is equally popular with both men and women. Georges Kern, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen, explains the thinking behind the new 2014 Portofino collection: “IWC has established itself as a global brand, and therefore keeps a close eye on what people are wearing when it comes to watches and jewellery, on what trends are developing. What we are currently observing is an increasing worldwide demand for watches set with diamonds.” IWC has reacted to this with a subtle development of its classic Portofino watch family, whose brand core remains unchanged: extravagant beauty and timeless elegance. “With the Midsize collection, we are making this successful, classic watch line more interesting for customers with slimmer wrists,” explains Georges Kern. “The diamond­set models will appeal to anyone with a preference for wristwatches that combine understated design with a touch of the exquisite.” The 2014 Portofino Midsize collection includes three new 37­millimetre models in 17 different versions: the Portofino Midsize Automatic Moon Phase (Ref. 4590), the Portofino Midsize Automatic Day & Night (Ref. 4591) and the Portofino Midsize Automatic (Ref. 4581). In addition to the Midsize collection, IWC is also unveiling three new Portofino Automatic (Ref. 3565) models featuring 40­millimetre cases.  

CONTINUING A LONG TRADITION  

“The Portofino Midsize collection responds to a current market trend, but at the same time draws on our past,” says Goris Verburg, Director Marketing & Communication IWC Schaffhausen, referring to IWC’s history. “Numerous different variations of watches with smaller cases, diamond­set bezels and mother­of­pearl dials have been a feature of our company’s 146­year history. For 20 years, most of the Portofino watches we sold were midsize models, and the manufacture of watches set with precious stones goes all the way back to IWC’s very beginning. The new Portofino Midsize models reflect a long tradition and open up a wider international market for the Portofino collection.” From the moment the watch family was launched in 1984, the impressive “pocket­watch­style wristwatch” (Ref. 5251) was accompanied by a smaller version with a case measuring just 34 millimetres in diameter. To mark its intro duction, IWC created the slogan “The Portofino series by IWC. The daily enjoyment of wearing a little gold.” With the  benefit of hindsight, the statement pointed to what to this day is one of the lasting reasons for the watch’s success - the tasteful combination of luxurious materials with a  puristic design.  

PETER LINDBERGH’S GALLERY  

In 2014, celebrated photographer Peter Lindbergh created an impressive series of pictures exclusively to mark the launch of the new Portofino Midsize collection, featuring well­known celebrities in the picturesque Italian harbour town of Portofino. It is the second time Lindbergh has  created a shoot for IWC Schaffhausen to promote the Porto fino, and he has once more managed to brilliantly convey in his work the spirit of timeless elegance that the town embodies. Remaining true to his artistic credo, Lindbergh chose to do the shoot in black and white. The leading roles were filled by esteemed Friends of the Brand Cate Blanchett, Emily Blunt, Zhou Xun, Ewan McGregor and Christoph Waltz. Supermodels Karolina Kurkova and Adriana Lima added a touch of allure to the event in some breathtaking fashion shots. The exclusive collection of photographs will travel the world as an exhibition entitled “Timeless Portofino” to mark the launch of the Portofino Midsize watches. First stops in 2014 are the IWC events scheduled for the Zurich Film Festival, the Watches & Wonders watch fair in Hong Kong, the London Film Festival, Art Basel in Miami and an exclusive occasion in Dubai.  

THE NEW PORTOFINO WATCHES FOR 2014: AN OVERVIEW  

The flagship of the new Midsize collection is the Portofino Midsize Automatic Moon Phase in white gold (Ref. IW459004). The dial, bezel and horns are decorated with a total of 174 pure white diamonds. The jet­black dial has several meticulously applied coats of lacquer and is the perfect backdrop to truly bring out the sparkle of the precious stones. For the first time ever, the designers have depicted the entire moon phase display as a star­studded night sky, with the moon and stars appearing to float in infinite space. For the dials of the red­gold and stainless­steel versions of the Portofino Midsize Automatic Moon Phase, flawless, gently shimmering mother­of­pearl in white (Ref. IW459001/IW459002/IW459005) and black (Ref. IW459003) was chosen. The bezels, encrusted with 66 sparkling diamonds,  are magnificent. “The use of diamonds and mother­of­pearl represents something of a renaissance in the history of our Portofino family,” explains Christian Knoop, Creative Director at IWC Schaffhausen. “But our take on luxury is a modern one. For us, it is discreet and unpretentious. The Portofino from IWC has retained the clean lines for which it has become so well known and so popular. It is underscored by the mother­of­pearl dials, as well as those with a sun­pattern finish, both of which give the watches a wonder ful depth and life of their own.”  

The new Portofino Midsize Automatic Day & Night featuring a red­gold (Ref. IW459102) or stainless­steel case (Ref. IW459101) combines the luxury of diamonds and mother­of­pearl with the nonchalance of a new and more mobile generation. It is the perfect companion for people who do business globally, jet­setters and night owls - after all, Portofino has for decades been a popular destination for the international rich and famous. Thanks to a second time zone and 24­hour day/night display, the Portofino Midsize Automatic Day & Night ensures that even those whose parties turn night into day never lose track of the time.  

The Portofino Midsize Automatic (Ref. 4581) featuring a 37­millimetre case comes in four red­gold and six stainless­steel versions, each one either with or without a diamond­set bezel. This puristic three­hand watch with date display has been the silent star of the IWC range for many years, so the fact that this classic is now available in a more opulent  design with a slightly smaller case will no doubt come as good news to devotees of timeless wristwatches. The sun­pattern finish on the dial and the meticulously  finished case lend these timepieces a real air of luxury and exclusivity.  

The Portofino Automatic (Ref. 3565) featuring a 40­millimetre case and date display has three additional models in the new collection, each featuring a bezel set with precious stones. With the red­gold model, the buyer has the choice between a silver­plated (Ref. IW356515) or slate­coloured (Ref. IW356516) dial. The Portofino Automatic in white gold (Ref. IW356514) is available exclusively with a silver­plated dial.  

EXCLUSIVE STRAPS FROM SANTONI  

With the exception of two models, all the new members of the Portofino watch family are perfectly complemented by their fine alligator leather straps, produced exclusively for IWC by well­known Italian shoe manufacturers Santoni. These elegant leather straps from Santoni are among the finest work of their artisan craftsmen. The secret of Santoni’s  success is the nuanced shading of the leather. Elaborately finished by hand, each strap has an exclusive patina­like shimmer with its own individual colour tones. To achieve this effect, the surface of the leather is polished with various different pastes until the desired shading and a perfect sheen are achieved. The wide choice of colours for the straps used with this year’s Portofino collection was inspired by the brightly coloured facades of the houses in Portofino, which lend the port its distinctive character. Two of the new Portofino watches feature an exquisite  Milanaise mesh bracelet: the Portofino Midsize Automatic Moon Phase (Ref. IW459005) and the Portofino Midsize Automatic (Ref. IW458110). The other Portofino Midsize models in the new collection are also available with stainless­steel or 18­carat red­gold Milanaise mesh bracelets in an elegant sixties­inspired style. Milanaise  mesh bracelets are made of a wire mesh weave and, as well as being extremely robust, fit snugly around the wrist. A slightly finer weave was chosen for the Midsize collection. As the name suggests, Milanaise bracelets were invented in Milan and are thus ideally suited to watches  that embody the Italian lifestyle.  

EXISTING PORTOFINO WATCHES KEEP ON TICKING  

All the models in the current Portofino collection from IWC Schaffhausen remain in the range, including the Portofino Hand-Wound Big Date (Ref. 5161), whose digital date display goes back all the way to the Pallweber system first used in the mid­1880s. The Portofino Hand-Wound Eight Days (Ref. 5101) joined the Portofino family in 2011. Its IWC­manufactured 59210­calibre movement runs precisely and reliably for a full 192 hours, or 8 days, before it automatically stops. The Portofino Chronograph (Ref. 3910) brings a touch of sporting flair to the Portofino family. Its striking chronograph push­buttons are reminiscent of the cockpit of 1960s Italian sports cars. Three hands and a discreet day display – as the watch of choice for the discerning purist, the Portofino Automatic (Ref. 3565) needs no more. Thanks to its timeless design, it has been one of the most successful models in the Portofino line for many years.  

A SUCCESS STORY FOUNDED ON A POCKET-WATCH-STYLE WRISTWATCH  

The history of the Portofino watch family from Schaffhausen  began in the late 1970s, when mass­produced quartz watches and ever more daring designer timepieces dominated the market. Despite this, IWC noted a steady demand for simple, classic models. These watches had to be reliable, retain their value and, above all, remain timeless. The model that immediately sprung to mind was the elegant IWC Lépine pocket watch (Ref. 5201). With its puristic design, slim Roman numerals and small seconds at “6 o’clock”, it already had the potential to become a classic. Taking this as their inspiration, IWC’s watch makers and case makers succeeded in manufacturing a new pocket­ watch­style wristwatch (Ref. 5251) in record time. As yet without a name, the “grande dame” appeared in the IWC collection for the first time in 1981 and created a  furore, not only on account of the imposing 46­millimetre case dia meter. For a wristwatch, the position of the seconds display  at “9 o’clock” was unusual to say the least. This positioning came about as the small seconds display was positioned in a straight line with the winding crown in the open­face pocket watch movement. Providing an aesthetic balance on the opposite side is a spectacular moon phase display made of genuine goldstone, an ornate feature crafted on the island of Murano, the centre of artisan glassmaking in Italy. In 1984, IWC Schaffhausen presented the first Portofino watch family, with Reference 5251 as the flagship of the collection. The launch, of course, took place in Portofino. The small, picturesque village on the Ligurian coast, which became the meeting point of the international jet set and epitome of Italian elegance in the 1950s, was virtually predestined to give the new watch its name. Its clear­cut  proportions, original design and, not least of all, its impressive dimensions have helped to ensure that the original Portofino (Ref. 5251) is a much sought-after rarity among collectors to this day.  

THE PORTOFINO FAMILY’S CLASSIC STATUS  

To mark its 120th jubilee in 1988, IWC unveiled the Portofino Reference 2532, an elegant, consummately designed timepiece featuring a gold case with Roman numerals and a hand­wound IWC calibre. The same year saw the launch of the Portofino Reference 3731 with the hybrid 631­calibre movement. Although the chronograph consisted of 233 parts, the height of the movement was just 3.8 millimetres - an outstanding achievement. In 1993, IWC launched the Portofino Hand­Wound (Ref. 2010) with a movement measuring just 1.85 millimetres in height. The slimmest of all IWC watches, it sold successfully until 2005. In 2004, IWC increased the case diameter of the Portofino Automatic (Ref. 3533) to 38 millimetres. The family welcomed its first purely mechanical chronograph (Ref. 3783) in 2007. Marking the company’s 140th anniversary in 2008, the Portofino Hand­Wound from the IWC Vintage Collection (Ref. 5448) invoked the success of the original Portofino. The choice of a hunter movement meant that the moon phase and seconds display reverted to their traditional  positions of “12 o’clock” and “6 o’clock”, respectively. In 2011, the Year of the Portofino, fans of this classic watch family enthusiastically welcomed many redesigned and newly developed models. Equipped with the IWC­manufactured 59210­calibre movement, the Portofino Hand­Wound Eight Days (Ref. 5101) effortlessly scaled the peak of haute horlogerie. In 2013, it was the turn of the 8­day in­house 59000­calibre family to welcome new members. Thanks to the new 59230 calibre, the Portofino watch family could now also boast a timepiece with a big date - the Portofino Hand­Wound Big Date (Ref. 5161).  

PORTOFINO MIDSIZE AUTOMATIC MOON PHASE  

DIAMONDS, MOON AND STARS    

In creating the new Portofino Midsize Automatic Moon Phase, IWC’s designers have taken inspiration from the elegance and flair of the 1950s and ’60s and combined this with a distinctly modern take on luxury. The moon phase display – a feature which harks back to the original Portofino from 1984 - sees the moon imaginatively set in a classic cloud scene or hovering in space in a star-studded  night sky.  

To the delight of many watch lovers, the 2014 Portofino collection sees the return of the most beautiful of all functions – the moon phase display. No fewer than five versions of the Portofino Midsize Automatic Moon Phase models glitter with a combination of diamonds, moon and stars: one in white gold (Ref. IW459004), three in red gold  (Ref. IW459002/IW459003/IW459005) and one in stainless steel (Ref. IW459001). Much like the Roman numerals, feuille hands and convex front glass, the moon phase display is an integral part of the Portofino watch line’s identity. It featured in the very first Portofino unveiled in 1984. This model was produced in very small series until the late 1990s, with no change in the design during this time. The Portofino Hand­Wound from the 2008 IWC Vintage Collection delighted connoisseurs with a display showing the moon in its various phases.  

The celestial bodies are not the only stars on the dial - every single model features an exquisite collection of diamonds and the finest materials. With a moderately sized 37­millimetre case, water­resistant to 3 bar, the Portofino Midsize Automatic Moon Phase also has the ideal dimensions for a more slender wrist. The hands and moon phase display are powered by the 35800­calibre automatic movement. The phase of the moon shown in the display can be adjusted using a correction button at “2 o’clock”. The central  seconds hand is stopped using the crown and the sapphire glass has an antireflective coating on both sides.  

BLACK AS NIGHT, BRIGHT AS DAY  

The Portofino Midsize Automatic Moon Phase in white gold (Ref. IW459004) is the flagship of the new Midsize collection. The dial is the first in IWC’s history to feature several meticulously applied coats of lacquer. The jet­black colour provides a striking backdrop to the pure white diamonds. For the first time ever, Schaffhausen’s watch designers have set the complete moon phase display against a star­studded night sky, making the stars appear to float in infinite space. It is an evocative image that is further enhanced by the diamond­encrusted inner circle of the dial and in the case, which is set with 90 precious stones. The baton­style indices, set with precious stones, radiate like a starburst from the centre of the dial, while the dots of the minute markers move round the edge like distant planets in orbit. Each one of the 174 stones on the dial, bezel and horns appears perfectly positioned, allowing the opulence of the decoration to blend seamlessly into the timepiece’s luxurious style. The watch is fitted with a black alligator leather strap made by Santoni.  

SHIMMERING MOTHER-OF-PEARL WITH THE FLAIR OF PORTOFINO  

Those who come to Portofino want to see and be seen. It has been that way since the days of stars like Maria Callas, Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren holding court in the cafés around the cobblestoned Piazzetta at the harbour, happily posing for the paparazzi and in the process establishing the fashion tastes of an entire generation. Diamond and pearl jewellery was a must in those days, and mother­of­pearl was a popular decorative element on the exquisite accessories and watches of the time. It was this that inspired IWC’s watch designers to use flawless, gently shimmering mother­of­pearl in white (Ref. IW459001/IW459002/IW459005) and black (Ref. IW459003) for the dials of the red­gold and stainless­steel versions of the Portofino Midsize  Automatic  Moon Phase. The subtle, smooth lustre of the mother­of­pearl underscores the clean design of the watches and gives the dials a magnificent sense of depth, bringing them to life. A bezel set with 66 diamonds completes each piece with a fitting elegance. The colours for the dial, case and strap have been carefully selected to give a sense of balance to each timepiece. The white mother­of­pearl on the stainless­steel model provides a wonderful counterpoint to the blue of the moon phase display, making it appear even larger. This colour is also perfectly complemented by the dark blue of the Santoni  alligator leather strap. A classic moon phase display features on the three red­gold versions, with the moon rising and setting behind the clouds. The red­gold model with white mother­of­pearl dial is paired either with a black Santoni  alligator leather strap or a red­gold Milanaise mesh bracelet to match the case. The black mother­ of­pearl dial truly brings out the sparkle of the diamonds on the hour indices of Reference IW459003. This model is supplied with a dark brown strap. A Milanaise mesh bracelet is also available as an option for the stainless­steel and the other red­gold versions.

IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN  

With a clear focus on technology and development, the Swiss watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen has been producing timepieces of lasting value since 1868. The company has gained an international reputation based on a passion for innovative solutions and technical ingenuity. One of the world’s leading brands in the luxury watch segment, IWC crafts masterpieces of haute horlogerie at their finest, combining supreme precision with exclusive design. As an ecologically and socially responsible company, IWC is committed to sustainable production, supports institutions around the globe in their work with children and young people, and maintains partnerships with organizations dedicated to climate and environmental protection.