IWC Portofino Watches

IWC Portofino watches reflect the luxurious lifestyle of the Italian fishing village which the designs take inspiration from.
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The place is considered a high society meeting place for those who prefer the finer things in life including beautifully manufactured Swiss watches. Retaining the same bold feel of some of their predecessors, IWC Portofino watches remain incredibly authentic and venture very little from the original designs.

The larger case widths no doubt, pair better with larger wrists on a gentleman, as do some of the ladies IWC watches. Glancing through some of our stunning IWC watches from the prestigious Portofino collection, you will note that some dials offer exquisite diamond dot dials, others accommodating a mix of Roman numeral and hour baton displays to create an incredibly elegant interpretation of modern timekeeping. The dials are vast, simple, uncluttered and certainly timeless.

Hallmarks of the Portofino collection from IWC Schaffhausen include sophisticated moonphase displays, GMT functions and the stunning 8 day power reserve. The very first model from the family, named after a quaint fishing village in Italy, was launched in 1984 and featured a timeless design which soon became a staple timepiece among the brand’s core collection, and one of the most popular innovations from the Swiss watchmakers by far. Some of the very first IWC Portofino watches spanned a diameter of 43 millimetres a size considered rather large for the wristwatch culture of its time. 

Both the ladies and gent’s range of IWC Portofino watches capture the desirability of the Gulf of Tigullio near Genoa in Italy. The destination is a magical attraction which combines a Mediterranean flair with the tranquility of the quiet backstreets that line the peaceful harbor with delicate-looking red terracotta houses. The collection welcomed the launch of the IWC Portofino Hand-Wound watch in 1993 which featured an ultra slim dial that graced the design with a true contemporary feel. The mechanical chronograph later joined the Portofino collection in 2007 followed by a line of IWC watches powered by the 8-day 59000-calibre.

In 2014 IWC Schaffhausen decided to downscale their size of their Portofino watches, with a men’s’ and ladies version that appealed to those with smaller wrists. The watches were not only comfortable for everyday wear, but they displayed the same beautiful characteristics that were, by now, so respected within the IWC watch culture. The 37mm Moonphase watch was also welcomed into the collection in the same year, which boasted a beautiful cloud scene, hovering on top of a star studded night sky. 

As mentioned earlier, many IWC Portofino watches are embellished by a glistening diamond loaded bezel. The feature adds opulence and a rich luxurious feel to the design, teaming beautifully with diamond dot hour markers and elegant rose gold central hands, accompanied with blue steeled sweeping second hands. It is however, the IWC Hand-Wound Eight Days watch which is considered by many enthusiasts, the star of the show. The blue dial version for example, exhibits stunning deep midnight blue and lustrous silver aesthetics. With small seconds sub dial at 6 o’clock enhanced by a vibrant red “60” index, a date aperture at 3 o’clock and a useful power reserve display at 9 o’clock the wearer need desire very little else. IWC Schaffhausen stamps their authenticity on the finished masterpiece, with the proud brand lettering positioned at the centre of the dial, glistening in a crisp silver hue.