Watches & Wonders Shanghai returns with a selection of exquisite timepieces from some of the biggest names in the industry, and IWC Schaffhausen has continued its red-hot form from Geneva with impressive updates to some of its most important collections.
The prestigious Watches & Wonders Geneva serves as the global epicentre of luxury watchmaking, bringing together the finest brands and enthusiasts in a city synonymous with timekeeping excellence. For a revered industry such as haute horlogerie, the localisation of Geneva cannot be understated.
But for the last four years, Watches & Wonders has enjoyed a second home in Shanghai, China, with the emergence of a new luxury market in Asia expanding the parameters of this esteemed event from its traditional European roots.
The Shanghai edition taps into the region’s burgeoning demand for luxury goods to offer a unique platform for brands to showcase their masterpieces to an increasingly affluent and discerning audience. The perfect place, then, for Swiss luxury watchmakers IWC Schaffhausen to release three of their latest novelties, bringing a touch of Swiss excellence to the sophisticated tastes of Asian consumers.
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Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide (Ref. IW344002)
Coming in at 44.6mm, the latest Portugeiser is one of the biggest released by IWC – and it’s a maritime enthusiast’s dream. IWC was certainly busy in Geneva at the beginning of this year, shining a light on their timeless Portugeiser expression with design updates and elegant colour options.
The new Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide (Ref. IW344002) is more than just a pretty face, standing out with its innovative moon phase complication and tide indicator, making it ideal for sailors and maritime enthusiasts.
Drawing inspiration from IWC Schaffhausen’s original 1939 deck observation watches designed for nautical navigation, this timepiece combines historical significance with cutting-edge functionality. Yet today’s iteration is an inherently sporty number, with a sophisticated black dial, complemented by a stainless steel case and a sleek new bracelet design.
At the 12, the watch’s double moon phase display is highly precise, adjusting for the lunar cycle, while the tide indicator provides real-time tidal information of neap and spring tide at 6 o’clock, reinforcing this particular piece’s nautical prowess.
Under the hood, the IWC-manufactured automatic movement 82836 Calibre boasts a lengthy 60-hour power reserve, whilst the updated movement features a silicon hairspring – a first for the Swiss luxury watchmakers.
Portofino Automatic Moon Phase 37 Year of the Snake (Ref. IW459604)
Limited to just 500 pieces, the IWC Schaffhausen Portofino Automatic Moon Phase 37 Year of the Snake is a striking expression from the Swiss luxury watch brand; a celebration of the Year of the Snake, the sixth animal of the Chinese zodiac, this piece is complete with a serpent-shaped rotor and the perfect expression from this year’s Shanghai event.
This rare zodiac combination, first occurring in 1965, symbolises wisdom, agility, and problem-solving, and today’s novelty continues the brand’s enduring tradition of honouring the Lunar New Year with a special edition watch. The use of burgundy on the dial with a golden moon phase display symbolises the vibrant colour of fire for the Lunar New Year and adds a striking elegance to the timepiece.
Under the hood, the Portofino features an automatic-winding 32800 Calibre, a 120-hour power reserve equipped with a Pellaton winding system, which uses a robust gear train and ceramic components to enhance durability and efficiency in winding. The perfect marriage of form and function.
Portofino Chronograph 39 (Ref. IW391503)
Since 1984, IWC Schaffhausen’s classic Portofino collection has been celebrated for its timeless design and understated elegance – it’s a sporty iteration from the esteemed Swiss brand, with a legacy of contemporary aesthetics with superior functionality.
Unveiled at Watches and Wonders Shanghai, IWC’s Portofino Chronograph 39 is the first in the collection to boast a sporty 5-link stainless steel bracelet with brushed and satin-finished links.
As the name suggests, this piece features a compact 39mm stainless steel case with a silver-plated dial and rhodium-plated hands, whilst the watch’s chronograph subdials are embedded at the 12 and 6 to complete the minimalist display.
Powered by IWC-manufactured calibre 69355 with a 46-hour power reserve (which is visible through a sapphire glass case back), the Portofino 39’s chronograph function offers precision timing seamlessly to continue the Portofino tradition of marrying classic aesthetics with modern engineering.
