The latest entrant in the long line of Bucherer Blue Series watches is the IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser Chronograph watch. With just 365 pieces available, this watch, the third IWC and Bucherer Portugieser collaboration, draws heavily on the brand’s nautical roots with its marine-inspired blue and white color scheme.
This is the first time an official Bucherer Blue Portugieser has been made in anything other than a rose gold case or with a dial that boasts a majority color other than blue. It is rather uncommon for any brand to produce a watch in the Bucherer Blue series that doesn’t feature a majorly blue display. In the current Bucherer Blue collection, only Longines, Audemars Piguet, and Piaget produce special editions for the famed Swiss retailer that feature predominantly white dials. Meanwhile, H. Moser & Cie seems not to have received (or perhaps completely ignored) the memo and produce a couple of brown- and gray-dialed watches. (To each their own, I suppose.)
The Portugieser collection is known for referencing the sea. The entire range recalls the nautical instruments of old that enabled history’s explorers to chart the globe’s oceans. Rather than being named after the Portuguese Navy, or a famed seafarer who hailed from the Iberian peninsula, the collection is named after two Portuguese clients who approached IWC in 1939, requesting a wristwatch that had the accuracy of a maritime chronometer. IWC accepted the challenge, and the creation of an icon began.
While the bright and breezy white and blue colorway is perfect for the summer months, so too is the specially created fabric strap fitted to the IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser Chronograph watch. Along with the 40.9mm stainless steel case, this watch is not only comfortable but also perfectly appropriate for an active lifestyle (and ideal for wear 365 days a year — hence, the limitation number).
Powered by the automatic caliber 79350 (the successor to the 79240, which it replaced around 2007), the IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser Chronograph has an operating frequency of 28,800vph and a power reserve of 44 hours. The movement is based on the Valjoux 7750 and is a reliable timekeeper that has been enhanced by IWC’s replacement of many of the standard 7750 parts with higher grade alternatives. The dial display is clean, with no date or subdial at 9 o’clock to clutter the view. Unfortunately, for fans of movement views, the caseback of this model is closed.
The IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser Chronograph watch for the Bucherer Blue Series (ref. IW371492) will be available exclusively at Bucherer boutiques from the end of July 2019. At just CHF 7,900 (around the same in USD, at the time of writing), this 39th watch in the Bucherer Blue Series (created with the help of 20 contributing brands) is easily the most accessible (and versatile) IWC to hit the collection yet. To learn more, visit iwc.com.
