HAUTE HORLOGERIE THE IWC WAY
From Kurt Klaus’ perpetual calendar and the Grande Complication to the Il Destriero Scafusia and the sophisticated astronomical displays of the Portugieser Sidérale Scafusia, IWC Schaffhausen looks back on an extensive fine watchmaking heritage. The manufacture was founded far away from Switzerland’s traditional watchmaking centers, leading to the development of a broad range of artisanal skills and comprehensive technical expertise. Sparked by a culture of curiosity and innovation, IWC Schaffhausen combines the best of human craftsmanship and creativity with state-of-the-art technology – creating functional complications that are as ingenious as they are remarkably efficient.
A HIGHLY FUNCTIONAL COMPLICATION – AND SPECTACULAR TO WATCH
The tourbillon, French for “whirlwind”, is one of the most fascinating complications in Haute Horlogerie. The pallet lever and the balance wheel are placed in a tiny cage that rotates around its axis once every minute. The continuous rotation helps to offset the effects of gravity on the watch’s oscillating system, contributing to a more evenly rate and enhancing accuracy. As the tourbillon is stopped and accelerated several times per second, weight reduction is a key requirement. Even though the mechanism consists of several dozen parts, it weighs just over half a gram. Assembling and fine-tuning a tourbillon is a task reserved for IWC Schaffhausen’s most experienced master watchmakers.
PORTUGIESER HAND-WOUND TOURBILLON
The Portugieser Hand-Wound Tourbillon (Ref. IW545801) presents a flying minute tourbillon prominently at 6 o’clock. Comprising 56 individual parts, the delicate mechanism weighs only 0.635 grams. Thanks to the integrated tourbillon stop, it can be brought to a complete halt, allowing the wearer to set the watch with down-to-the-second accuracy. In addition, the pallet lever and escape wheel have been coated with Diamond Shell® technology, a smooth diamond coating that reduces friction. In combination with the optimized geometry of these silicon parts, the coating improves the energy flow in the movement. The IWC-manufactured 81905 caliber movement can be admired through the sapphire glass case back. The hand-wound movement is elaborately finished with Geneva stripes and skeletonized to offer a view of the barrel, which stores 84 hours of power.
PORTUGIESER TOURBILLON MYSTÈRE RÉTROGRADE
The Portugieser Tourbillon Mystère Rétrograde was first introduced to the collection in 2004 and presented a tourbillon in a surprising and innovative new way. Instead of being housed in a cage, the rotating escapement is held from the bottom by a bearing and shown against a deep black background. This complex construction creates the optical illusion that the mechanism is floating freely in space. In addition to its flying minute tourbillon, the Portugieser Tourbillon Mystère Rétrograde (Ref. IW504601) impresses with a polished and brushed platinum case and a silver-plated dial. The IWC-manufactured 51900 caliber, comprising 368 individual components and offering a power reserve of 168 hours, drives this masterwork of Haute Horlogerie.
PORTUGIESER TOURBILLON MYSTÈRE RÉTROGRADE
This Portugieser Tourbillon Mystère Rétrograde (Ref. IW504602) is presented in an elaborately polished 18-carat 5N gold case with a diameter of 44.2 millimeters. The slate-colored dial contrasts beautifully with the case, gold-plated hands, and appliqués. In addition to the flying minute tourbillon, another highlight of this Haute Horlogerie watch is the retrograde date display. Instead of showing the date in a window, a small hand points to a number on an arch-shaped scale. At the end of each month, the hand jumps back from the 31st to the 1st, and a new cycle begins. The IWC-manufactured 51900 caliber has been elaborately finished and can be viewed through the transparent sapphire glass back.
PORTOFINO HAND-WOUND TOURBILLON RÉTROGRADE
The Portofino Hand-Wound Tourbillon Rétrograde marked the first time IWC Schaffhausen introduced a tourbillon to the Portofino collection. The eye-catcher on the silver-plated dial of this Haute Horlogerie watch is the flying hacking minute tourbillon at 6 o’clock. The tourbillon is a state-of-the-art construction, comprising 56 parts weighing only 0.673 grams. The pallet lever and the escape wheel have been treated with Diamond Shell® technology, reducing friction and improving the energy flow in the movement. The IWC-manufactured 59900 caliber is wound by hand and offers an impressive power reserve of 8 days. The base plate has been decorated with Geneva stripes and skeletonized to provide remarkable views of the barrel drum and other components.
UNIQUE EXPERTISE IN CALENDAR COMPLICATIONS
The introduction of Kurt Klaus’ perpetual calendar in 1985 marked the beginning of IWC Schaffhausen’s comprehensive expertise in calendar complications. The company’s former Head Watchmaker created a complication that is remarkable in many aspects: all its displays are perfectly synchronized with each other and can be easily advanced via the crown. The mechanical program is based on a four-year cycle of 48 months, representing three regular years of 365 days followed by a leap year of 366 days. The calendar comprises only about 80 parts, all housed in a module that is only 1.5 millimeters high. With its ingeniously efficient and technically elegant design, the perpetual calendar epitomizes IWC Schaffhausen’s engineering approach to fine watchmaking.
PORTUGIESER PERPETUAL CALENDAR
The Portugieser Perpetual Calendar (Ref. IW503406) presents the perpetual calendar in a finely crafted 44.2-millimeter platinum case. The case components are elaborately finished with polished and brushed surfaces. The silver-plated dial and the rhodium-plated hands and appliqués perfectly match the whitish shimmer of the rare precious metal. The Double Moon™ display at 12 o’clock, an innovation from IWC Schaffhausen, shows the moon as seen from the Northern and Southern hemispheres and will only deviate by one day after 577.5 years. The IWC-manufactured 52615 caliber movement drives the perpetual calendar via a single nightly switching impulse. It features a Pellaton winding system reinforced with ceramic components, which builds up a power reserve of 7 days in two barrels.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN AN HAUTE HORLOGERIE WATCH FROM IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN?