The Portofino Chronograph 39 “Laureus Sport for Good” Ref. IW391408 is all about driving change through sport and education, and features the drawing of Jatin Malhan, winner of the latest IWC drawing competition.
Sport can be a very powerful tool! It helps you get stronger – physically and mentally. It can bring endless happiness, utter frustration and salvation at the same time. But what’s most striking about it is that it can help you find direction and purpose. It motivates you to keep trying, to not give up. And to find joy in interacting with your peers and playfully competing with each other.
Is there any other activity more meaningful for a kid than sport? Probably not.
Drawing by goalkeeper Jatin from India
That’s why I proudly carry an engraving of a drawing made by 15-year-old Jatin Malhan from India on my case back. A goalkeeper for the Youth Football Club Rurka Kalan, Jatin took part in one of the programs sponsored by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation that empowers young people to drive change in their communities. The drawing shows hands united together as equals, and could not better embody the foundation’s objectives: to promote tolerance, foster community spirit and support gender equality through sport and education.
Portofino Chronograph 39 “Laureus Sport for Good” Ref. IW391408
The case back features an engraving of Jatin’s drawing
Dressy yet subtly sporty
As the third Portofino – and 16th IWC watch - dedicated to Laureus Sport for Good, of course I feature the typical Laureus blue dial that beautifully contrasts with the rhodium-plated hands and appliques. Limited to 1000 pieces, I’m quite wrist-accessible for I feature a compact 39-millimeters stainless-steel case that is attached to a black calfskin strap. The combination allows me to be dressy yet subtly sporty.
IWC once again proved its commitment to the Laureus cause during the launch of one of my predecessors, the Portugieser Hand-Wound Monopusher Edition “Laureus Sport for Good” (Ref. IW515301): in the run-up to the Laureus World Sports Awards in Berlin, members of the Laureus and IWC family, including our CEO, Chris Grainger-Herr, visited one of Laureus’ local community projects for a kickabout with Laureus brand ambassador Maro Engel. The local program intends to integrate socially disadvantaged girls nationwide through soccer.
Laureus is always on location, and making a change right where it’s needed the most
Generating positive energy
At any rate, what I love most about Laureus’ initiatives are its bottom-up, community-based approaches. Laureus is always on location, and making a change right where it’s needed the most, drawing on genuine grassroots coalitions between sporting, government and nonprofit organizations. I am delighted that IWC Schaffhausen supports such commendable work.
One watch connoisseur once wrote that “Portofinos are all about elegance and noblesse.” I could not agree more. Laureus supports over 250 programs worldwide that are aimed at generating positive energy and helping youth gain confidence to make smart decisions. I’m excited to be part of this very noble cause.
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