The Replica IWC Portofino Chronograph Story. The Portofino family successfully combines the ease of the Mediterranean lifestyle with understated glamour and timeless elegance. Since 1988, chronographs have had their firm place in this family. The Portofino Chronograph handles single stop times and aggregate timing up to 12 hours, bringing a sporty touch to the collection. The Portofino Chronograph Story. The IWC Portofino Chronograph Replica takes its design cues from the 1960s, with elegantly sporty push-buttons and chronograph displays. The stainless-steel chronograph watch has a convex sapphire glass and rhodium-plated appliqués on its silver-plated dial.
Between 1988 and 1996, IWC introduced two variants of the Portofino Chronograph with the quartz caliber 630 from Jaeger-LeCoultre. The model with the reference number 3730 is 29 mm in diameter, making it a great choice for women. Its minute and hour counters sit at 3 and 9 o’clock, respectively, while the small seconds dial is located at 6 o’clock.
It may not have the name recall of other Swiss brands with the same caliber, but IWC’s achievements through time cannot simply be ignored. Horology aficionados around the world have admired the company through the years for its commitment to put forth groundbreaking timepieces with high technical standards and to be one step ahead in design without compromising accuracy and precision. To the layman, one might appreciate the timelessness of IWC’s watches that never seems to have the desire to be in trend yet still looks elegant and appropriate for most occasions. For those just beginning to appreciate the esteemed brand distinguished with its leaf-shaped hands and lux designs, the Portofino collection is a good place to start.
Delivered in a moderately oversized body, this new IWC Portofino Chronograph (Ref. IW391002) is a nice alternative to both Patek Philippe chronographs that are just too formal and the Omega Speedmaster series, which is just too sporty. Relatively affordable and styled with attention to even smallest details, this is something that you want to wear in the office.
The new model IW391002 picks up were the 2008 Portuguese Hand-Wound Vintage Collection left off. It takes the leaf-shaped hands and makes them even more expressive while still allowing for good readability, the case is now even more massive-looking thanks to the thicker bezel, yet the least of functions is extended well beyond usual hours, minutes and small seconds. It is now a full-fledged self-winding chronograph with a useful calendar.
Although a lot of people will lament the lack of railway minute track, it is for the better making the piece’s dial visually lighter and the central chronograph seconds hand more precise when it comes to measuring short intervals where every 1/10th of a second counts (frankly, I can’t imagine a situation where you would need such precision, but, hey, you need to somehow justify the hefty $6000 list price tag that this new chronograph is accompanied with).
Yes, the movement, to a bit of regret, is not an in-house job (and you probably won’t find a manufacture-grade mechanism in this price range when it comes to brands of such pedigree), but, on the other hand, a mass-produced mechanism is not only easier on your wallet, but also spares you a lot of trouble when it comes to keeping the engine in good working order.
As usual, the caliber features a rather average power reserve of 44 hours and has a small hacking seconds “complication” (just like the rest of the 7750-based movements.) When you set the time, the seconds hand stops and resets to the “0” position, which helps to increase the timekeeper’s accuracy.
The movement is enclosed in a well-proportionate stainless steel case 42 millimeters in diameter and 13.5 mm thick. Like the rest of the refreshed series, the IW391002 looks slim and even refined in a sporty kind of way, mainly thanks to the brand’s traditional attention to details (I mean, just look at that pin buckle!)
This year’s Portofino takes a great deal of space even on an average wrist, but, being a more subdued (or, perhaps, less conspicuous) version of the Portuguese family (and the Portuguesers were initially nothing more than mere pocket watches adapted to be worn on a wrist,) this is something to be expected. Anyway, the gadget is superbly styled and will look great with a formal suit.
Due to limitations of the movement, the dial sports a standard tri-compax layout with a 30-minute counter at 12 o’clock, a 12-hour totalizer at 6 o’clock and a small seconds display at 9 o’clock.
Well, although the IWC Portofino Chronograph is equipped with a slightly refinished version of an “ordinary” mass-produced movement and its collector’s value is almost zero, it may be a good choice if you are searching for a dressy timekeeper, which is supposed to be worn with business attire.