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Strength in Elegance: The Armor Gold® Case
The case, crown, and pushers are all made of 18-carat Armor Gold®, an advanced gold alloy with a modified microstructure that provides notably increased hardness. Built for both luxury and durability, this unique case material complements the sophisticated spirit of the Portugieser collection.
A Dial with Depth: Obsidian Finish in 15 Layers of Lacquer
The obsidian-colored dial is the result of a meticulous 60-step production process, including the application of 15 layers of transparent lacquer. The result is an extraordinary optical depth and near three-dimensional visual effect. Gold-plated hands and solid gold appliqués elevate the dial’s prestige. The timepiece is completed with a black alligator leather strap by Santoni, featuring an 18-carat Armor Gold® folding clasp.
Tourbillon Technology at Its Finest
At the heart of the watch lies a flying minute tourbillon positioned at 6 o’clock. This highly complex and visually captivating mechanism places the pallet fork and escapement wheel inside a rotating cage that turns once per minute, minimizing the effects of gravity on the movement’s precision.
Weighing just 0.675 grams and composed of 56 individual components, the tourbillon features a stop-seconds mechanism, allowing the watch to be set to the precise second. The escapement components are made of silicon and coated with IWC’s proprietary Diamond Shell® technology, which reduces friction and optimizes energy flow — helping achieve a 68-hour power reserve.
Retrograde Date and Flyback Chronograph: Precision in Motion
The retrograde date display, located at 9 o’clock, uses a curved scale and a single hand to indicate the date from 1 to 31. At the end of the month, the hand instantly jumps back to the start.
At 12 o’clock, a flyback chronograph tracks elapsed hours and minutes via a totalizer. Unlike a conventional chronograph, the flyback mechanism allows the stopwatch function to be instantly reset and restarted with a single push — ideal for measuring successive time intervals.
The Movement Behind the Masterpiece: Calibre 89900
This exceptional timepiece is powered by the in-house Calibre 89900, a self-winding mechanical movement made of 375 individual parts. Finely decorated with Geneva stripes and circular graining, the movement is visible through the sapphire case back. The rotor, made of solid gold, completes the luxurious architecture of the mechanism.
Part of a Greater Narrative: The Obsidian Aesthetic
In 2024, IWC reimagined its iconic Portugieser collection with new color codes inspired by the passage of time: Horizon Blue, Dune, Obsidian, and Silver Moon. Representing the eternal flow of day and night, these hues lend new emotional and visual depth to the collection. With its Obsidian dial and trio of complications, this model is a flagship expression of both tradition and innovation.