Portuguese Automatic White Gold / Ardoise

The Portugieser originated in 1939 when two Portuguese importers commissioned IWC to build a wristwatch with the precision of a marine chronometer. The solution was to fit a large pocket watch movement — the Hunter calibre 74 — into a 41.5mm wristwatch case, enormous for its era. This created the Portugieser's defining characteristic: a large, thin case with a clean dial and slim hands that gives the impression of a pocket watch adapted for the wrist. The modern Portugieser family has expanded to include chronographs, perpetual calendars, and minute repeaters, but the essential character remains — restrained design, generous proportions, and a legibility that derives from the original marine chronometer brief.

The IWC Portugieser 5001 was introduced in 2004. This Portugieser features a case of 42.3mm, which holds a self-winding movement with power reserve at 3:00, date at 6:00, and small seconds at 9:00. The earliest versions are powered by caliber 50010 (ca. 2004-2005); later models use either the 51010 (2005-2007) or 51011 (2007 onwards). Reference IW5001-06 has a White Gold case and a Grey dial.