It just occurred to me that it's the middle of July, and in less than six months IWC's 2011 novelities will debut. And I don't think it's a state secret that next year will be the year of the Portofino. We also had a sneak preview of a lot of IWC celebrity-friends being photographed on the Italian Riviera.
I have the luxury of saying that I have NOT seen the new models...yet. So I can't give you any hints. But I do have a few simple questions:
If you were introducing new models in the Portofino line --what would they be? What would they look like? What movements would they have?
3,730 Discussions and CommentsMember since March 28, 2001
A challenge for the "bottom" family
The Portofino is not popular here, as it is a kind of entry-`level` dress watch. But out there, there must be a lot of people that would like to have a real IWC, but not too expensive. Do we have to talk compromise? The Portofino must not look better than the Portuguese, nor must it have a nice in-house movement. Why would you bother to buy a Portuguese otherwise?
I would say, the Portofino must be a decent looking watch, a bit bigger than the models now, with a good out-house movement like ETA. The secret may lie in the successful transformation of the word decent into something special, kind of wanna-have: it really must sell. Steel, but also rose gold, or the come back of yellow gold. An Automatic and a Chronograph. Maybe a travel watch UTC.
Kind regards, Paul, wearing rose gold VC Portuguese, that must always look better than the Portofino
What you do may not be so important, but it is very important that you do it well. (my variation of a saying by Gandhi)
We all view the world from our own perspective, which may be correct for us but not necessarily universally true. The Portofino line is not primarily a "collectors' watch" but collectors aren't the mainstream IWC buyers.
The Portofino line --which is classic in its simplicity-- is extraordinarily popular, even if it may not be a "signature" watch like the Portuguese or Pilots' models. I hear it is especially popular in the Far East.
So --if I were CEO-- I would think the challenge is how to "upgrade" the models with more in-house movements (and uplifting the average price point) without losing the core audience. The watch already sells --better than you'd imagine-- and the trick isn't really to increase quantities but price point without losing the current constituency. That points to more models even if total units will be the same or slightly increase.
I know iwc have moved away from pw's but the portofino would be the perfect place for one. It would be simple, thin, maybe on a leather thong as oppose to a chain or fob. No complications. Just typical portofino minimalism. Stephen
2,081 Discussions and CommentsMember since Jan. 7, 2005
I like this kind of post!
As usual, I'll say what I wish to see and I'll guess what I believe will come out.
Wishes: a hw Portofino, just like ref.5251, a perpetual calendar, just like ref 3541 but 40mm size but HW - cal 98xxx based and a brand new Portofino extraplat, 2 hands, no second hand.
Guess: Portofino minute retrograde, new portofino chrono with 89360 inside (will join an eta based chrono), Portofino automatic with cal 51113, Portofino Tourbillon, Portofino Perpetual Calendar called "Romana".
My choice for wishes considers the nature of the Portofino as an HW watch (imho) as it should remain, my guess considers the need to probably increase the offer and to open the door to the chances it gives an automatic movement from this perspective.
I probably didn't even get close to reality, but it's fun!
2,905 Discussions and CommentsMember since Nov. 14, 2008Taylor, TX,
United States
I bought a Portofino...
because I wanted a classic dress watch in rose gold. It serves that purpose well and I like the understated elegance. It was also an IWC watch in a precious metal that I could afford. I think the Portofino addresses a part of the market that would love to have an IWC, but cannot/will not pay five figures for a watch from one of the other signature families. I would hate to see the Portofino stray too far above that segment of the IWC market. However, I love the VC Portofino and would very much like to see some variations allong those lines...especially a simple date and moon phase with the same clean understatement.
Best regards, Jim
Best regards, Jim
"We are the other people, we are the other people...you're the other people too!" Frank Zappa
3,730 Discussions and CommentsMember since March 28, 2001
How to keep the Portofino selling
Thank you, Michael, I indeed read somewhere that the Portofino was a kind of silent selling giant. As you sometimes have to upgrade your successes, the challenge to me is how to keep the two dressy round lines, Portofino and Portuguese, apart. The Portofino being the cheaper brother.The question is: evolution or revolution. On those celebrity pictures a few months ago, some watches could be seen, I assumed with some others that those were new Portofino's. As far as I could see, evolution was the theme. Then, there is not so much room to maneuver. In my opinion the model itself must be made a bit more attractive, but I cannot really put my finger on it. So I guess it will not be that spectacular, and it shouldn't be. Let's indeed wait and see. I certainly liked my brainwave of the UTC, a dressy travel watch with the existing technology not used too often by IWC. It could increase the fun factor in the line, maybe that would take away the dull image of the line right now. But looking at sales, there would be no need to do so.
Kind regards, Paul, wearing rose gold VC Portuguese
What you do may not be so important, but it is very important that you do it well. (my variation of a saying by Gandhi)
I have the luxury of saying that I have NOT seen the new models...yet. So I can't give you any hints. But I do have a few simple questions:
If you were introducing new models in the Portofino line --what would they be? What would they look like? What movements would they have?
Six months from now we can see if you're right ,)
Regards,
Michael
Regards, Michael
mfriedberg@iwcforum.com
Last edited: 5 April, 2012 - 19:53
and a Portofino Chrono in 42mm sizes both in black and silver dials.
An inbetween model at 39-40mm would also be ideal for slender and/or female wrists too.
A RG case would be a wonderful addition also.
I am thinking 98000 for a caliber I hope it would not make it very expensive though if not the ETA based for Portuguese Chrono Cal. I think.
Argiris
Best regards
Argiris
Last edited: 29 October, 2011 - 21:11
The Portofino is not popular here, as it is a kind of entry-`level` dress watch. But out there, there must be a lot of people that would like to have a real IWC, but not too expensive. Do we have to talk compromise? The Portofino must not look better than the Portuguese, nor must it have a nice in-house movement. Why would you bother to buy a Portuguese otherwise?
I would say, the Portofino must be a decent looking watch, a bit bigger than the models now, with a good out-house movement like ETA. The secret may lie in the successful transformation of the word decent into something special, kind of wanna-have: it really must sell. Steel, but also rose gold, or the come back of yellow gold. An Automatic and a Chronograph. Maybe a travel watch UTC.
Kind regards,
Paul, wearing rose gold VC Portuguese, that must always look better than the Portofino
What you do may not be so important, but it is very important that you do it well. (my variation of a saying by Gandhi)
Last edited: 23 October, 2011 - 13:31
Greetings, Martijn
Last edited: 6 July, 2012 - 10:18
We all view the world from our own perspective, which may be correct for us but not necessarily universally true. The Portofino line is not primarily a "collectors' watch" but collectors aren't the mainstream IWC buyers.
The Portofino line --which is classic in its simplicity-- is extraordinarily popular, even if it may not be a "signature" watch like the Portuguese or Pilots' models. I hear it is especially popular in the Far East.
So --if I were CEO-- I would think the challenge is how to "upgrade" the models with more in-house movements (and uplifting the average price point) without losing the core audience. The watch already sells --better than you'd imagine-- and the trick isn't really to increase quantities but price point without losing the current constituency. That points to more models even if total units will be the same or slightly increase.
But --we'll see.
Regards,
Michael
Regards, Michael
mfriedberg@iwcforum.com
Last edited: 5 April, 2012 - 19:53
Best regards
Mark
Last edited: 16 April, 2013 - 00:36
I know iwc have moved away from pw's but the portofino would be the perfect place for one.
It would be simple, thin, maybe on a leather thong as oppose to a chain or fob. No complications. Just typical portofino minimalism.
Stephen
As usual, I'll say what I wish to see and I'll guess what I believe will come out.
Wishes: a hw Portofino, just like ref.5251, a perpetual calendar, just like ref 3541 but 40mm size but HW - cal 98xxx based and a brand new Portofino extraplat, 2 hands, no second hand.
Guess: Portofino minute retrograde, new portofino chrono with 89360 inside (will join an eta based chrono), Portofino automatic with cal 51113, Portofino Tourbillon, Portofino Perpetual Calendar called "Romana".
My choice for wishes considers the nature of the Portofino as an HW watch (imho) as it should remain, my guess considers the need to probably increase the offer and to open the door to the chances it gives an automatic movement from this perspective.
I probably didn't even get close to reality, but it's fun!
Thank you MF!
roberto
Regards,
Roberto
Last edited: 11 January, 2013 - 11:07
because I wanted a classic dress watch in rose gold. It serves that purpose well and I like the understated elegance. It was also an IWC watch in a precious metal that I could afford. I think the Portofino addresses a part of the market that would love to have an IWC, but cannot/will not pay five figures for a watch from one of the other signature families. I would hate to see the Portofino stray too far above that segment of the IWC market. However, I love the VC Portofino and would very much like to see some variations allong those lines...especially a simple date and moon phase with the same clean understatement.
Best regards,
Jim
Best regards,
Jim
"We are the other people, we are the other people...you're the other people too!"
Frank Zappa
Last edited: 13 March, 2012 - 15:03
Thank you, Michael, I indeed read somewhere that the Portofino was a kind of silent selling giant. As you sometimes have to upgrade your successes, the challenge to me is how to keep the two dressy round lines, Portofino and Portuguese, apart. The Portofino being the cheaper brother.The question is: evolution or revolution. On those celebrity pictures a few months ago, some watches could be seen, I assumed with some others that those were new Portofino's. As far as I could see, evolution was the theme. Then, there is not so much room to maneuver. In my opinion the model itself must be made a bit more attractive, but I cannot really put my finger on it. So I guess it will not be that spectacular, and it shouldn't be. Let's indeed wait and see. I certainly liked my brainwave of the UTC, a dressy travel watch with the existing technology not used too often by IWC. It could increase the fun factor in the line, maybe that would take away the dull image of the line right now. But looking at sales, there would be no need to do so.
Kind regards,
Paul, wearing rose gold VC Portuguese
What you do may not be so important, but it is very important that you do it well. (my variation of a saying by Gandhi)
Last edited: 23 October, 2011 - 13:31