THE IWC CHRONOGRAPH:
THE REFERENCE
The chronograph is a stylish and sporty complication, offering virtually limitless applications in everyday life. IWC’s comprehensive chronograph expertise is deeply rooted in the company’s legacy of manufacturing instrument watches, distinguished by their robustness and accuracy. With an uncompromising approach to performance, functionality and quality, IWC has become the reference for chronograph watches.
IWC CHRONOGRAPHS IN FOCUS
ICONIC IWC CHRONOGRAPHS ACROSS COLLECTIONS
More than 40 years ago, IWC Schaffhausen manufactured its first chronograph. Today, mechanical stopwatches form an essential pillar of all main collections. They are available in many case sizes and dial colours. A broad range of strap and bracelet options adds additional versatility. This enormous variety makes it easy for everyone to find an IWC chronograph that underscores their character and reflects their lifestyle. What all focus chronographs in our selection have in common is supreme technology from IWC’s Manufakturzentrum in Schaffhausen: They are all powered by movements from the IWC-manufactured 69000 calibre family, offering the ultimate in performance, precision and durability.
TIMELESSNESS AND VERSATILITY
With its blend of elegance and sportiness, the Portugieser Chronograph has become one of the most treasured members of IWC’s Portugieser family. The combination of the chronograph in 18-carat 5N gold with a black rubber strap produces a surprisingly fresh look. The flexible and durable rubber strap offers excellent wearing comfort year-round. It also accentuates the understated design of this iconic timepiece. Ask in your IWC boutique about the strap and bracelet options available.
FUNCTIONALITY AND READABILITY
The Portugieser Chronograph is powered by the IWC-manufactured 69355 calibre movement. Enabling stop time measurements of up to 30 minutes, it features the IWC-typical vertical dial layout. The stopped minutes are placed directly at the 12 o’clock position for easy readability. The Portugieser Chronograph in 18-carat 5N gold or stainless steel can also be fitted with an olive green rubber strap. Ask in your IWC Boutique about the strap options available for this model.
FUNCTIONALITY AND READABILITY
The Portugieser Chronograph is powered by the IWC-manufactured 69355 calibre movement. Enabling stop time measurements of up to 30 minutes, it features the IWC-typical vertical dial layout. The stopped minutes are placed directly at the 12 o’clock position for easy readability. The Portugieser Chronograph in 18-carat 5N gold or stainless steel can also be fitted with an olive green rubber strap. Ask in your IWC Boutique about the strap options available for this model.
IWC IS THE REFERENCE FOR CHRONOGRAPH WATCHES
IWC’s heritage is deeply rooted in professional watches typified by their robustness and high precision. For over 40 years, this legacy has spurred us on to develop chronographs that are among the best in the industry. What sets IWC apart is an uncompromising approach to performance, functionality and quality.
We never compromise on performance: Three unique IWC-manufactured movements underline our high level of expertise in developing mechanical stopwatches. With the IWC-manufactured 69000 calibre, our focus was unwaveringly on robustness, reliability and durability.
We never compromise on functionality: At IWC, function always comes first. This uncompromisingly functional design approach has led to the typical vertical dial layout. While significantly enhancing legibility, it has become a distinctive design element that sets our chronographs apart.
We never compromise on quality: To produce chronographs to the highest possible standards of quality and technical excellence, we continually push forward with new materials, industry-leading manufacturing processes, testing standards and quality management.
CHRONOGRAPHS ARE COMPLEX MECHANISMS
Mechanical chronographs are complex mechanisms consisting of dozens of springs, wheels and levers. Their design and manufacturing represents an engineering feat mastered by only very few specialized watchmakers. While some owners use the stopwatch function only sporadically, others carry out dozens of time measurements per day. Furthermore, the chronograph complication drains a relatively large amount of energy from the basic movement, and the components are subject to extreme stresses during use. The challenge lies in designing a mechanism that will suit the entire spectrum of user profiles and work reliably for many years.
ENGINEERED FOR PERFORMANCE
An innovative development from Schaffhausen is the IWC-manufactured 69000 calibre family, engineered with an uncompromising focus on robustness, reliability and longevity. Column-wheel control of the chronograph ensures that individual phases in the switching sequence are clearly defined. There is also a distinct tactile resistance when the buttons are pushed. Seamless integration with the basic movement and careful coordination of all components help to ensure that the correct rates are maintained even when the chronograph is subject to intense use.
FUNCTIONAL VERTICAL DIAL LAYOUT
At IWC, function always comes first. This uncompromisingly functional approach to design has resulted in the IWC-typical, vertical arrangement of the subdials, where the stopped minutes are displayed directly at the 12 o’clock position. This layout significantly enhances readability and has also become a distinguishing design feature of IWC’s chronographs. It can be found across the complete range of IWC-manufactured chronograph movements and across all major collections.
LINE ASSEMBLY AND QUALITY MANAGEMENT
In its manufacturing centre in Schaffhausen, IWC uses state-of-the-art processes to ensure maximum quality and precision for its chronograph movements. The assembly of the IWC-manufactured 69000 calibre, for example, is organized in a dedicated line and divided into several smaller steps. This approach helps to achieve the best possible quality at every stage of the process. The assembly is accompanied by an integrated quality concept. In addition to quality controls after each step, it also includes a final control in the IWC-developed FIM cell (Final Inspection Movement), where all relevant movement functions are tested automatically over a period of 12 days.
STOPPING POWER SINCE 1980
Over more than four decades, IWC has acquired extensive experience in developing mechanical chronographs.
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![Porsche Design Titanium Chronograph 1]()
IW3700 - PORSCHE DESIGN TITANIUM CHRONOGRAPH 1IWC launched its first chronograph in 1980. The timepiece developed as part of the collaboration with Porsche Design was also the first chronograph in the world with a case and bracelet made of titanium - a light, robust metal that is enormously difficult to machine. -
![Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Ceramic]()
IW3705 - PILOT’S WATCH CHRONOGRAPH CERAMICThe Pilot’s Chronograph Ceramic in 1994 was IWC’s first Pilot Watch with a tough, scratch-resistant zirconium oxide ceramic case. The multi-stage process of transforming powdered raw materials into the engineering ceramics used for watch cases is highly complex. -
![Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph TOP GUN]()
IW3799 - PILOT’S WATCH DOUBLE CHRONOGRAPH TOP GUNIWC launched the first Double Chronograph in 1992 with the 79230 calibre. The split-seconds hand can be stopped independently using the push-button at 10 o’clock, allowing two independent short-time measurements. A Double Chronograph was also IWC’s first TOP GUN watch in 2007. -
![Portofino Hand-Wound Monopusher]()
IW515103 - PORTOFINO HAND-WOUND MONOPUSHERIn a conventional chronograph, two push buttons at the 2 and 4 o’clock positions control the stopwatch functions. By contrast, the IWC-manufactured 59360 calibre integrates a single push-button into the crown. This “monopusher” chronograph boasts remarkable technical refinement. -
![Portugieser Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month]()
IW397204 - PORTUGIESER PERPETUAL CALENDAR DIGITAL DATE-MONTHMovements from the 89000-calibre family are used to combine a chronograph with a perpetual calendar. They display the stopped minutes and hours together in a totalizer at 12 o’clock. This Portugieser features a chronograph and a perpetual calendar with a digital date and month display. -
![Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “W125”]()
IW380701 - INGENIEUR CHRONOGRAPH EDITION “W125”In 2016, IWC launched its first chronograph from the 69000-calibre family. With their design focused on robustness and reliability, these chronograph movements feature in various IWC collections. The typical dial layout displays the stopped minutes at 12 o’clock for easier reading.
THREE UNIQUE IWC CHRONOGRAPH MOVEMENTS
Three IWC-manufactured chronograph movements underscore the company’s comprehensive expertise in developing mechanical stopwatches.
IWC-manufactured 89000 calibre: The movements from this calibre family display the stopped hours and minutes combined in a totalizer at 12 o’clock. This feature makes reading the stop time particularly easy and leaves room for additional displays on the dial. Therefore, movements from this calibre family are ideal for combining a chronograph function with other complications like a perpetual calendar.
IWC-manufactured 59360 calibre: In a conventional chronograph, two push buttons at 2 and 4 o’clock control the stopwatch functions. By contrast, the hand-wound IWC-manufactured 59360 calibre uses a single push-button integrated into the crown to start, stop and reset the chronograph. Known as a “monopusher” chronograph, this construction boasts remarkable technical refinement and allows for a more discreet, unobtrusive chronograph design.
IWC-manufactured 69000 calibre: IWC developed this calibre with an uncompromising focus on robustness, reliability and longevity. Column wheel control ensures that individual phases in the switching sequence are clearly defined. Seamless integration with the basic movement and careful coordination of all components help to ensure that the correct rates are maintained even when the chronograph is subject to highly intensive use.