Important Collectors’ Wristwatches Po...

New York, Mar 15, 2006

LOT 207

"Portuguese Chronograph" International Watch Co., Schaffhausen, "Portuguese Chronograph", Ref. 3714. Made circa 2000. Fine, self-winding, water-resistant, 18K white gold gentleman's wristwatch with round button chronograph, register and an 18K white gold IWC buckle. Accompanied by a fitted box and certificate.

USD 6,000 - 8,000

EUR 5,000 - 6,700

Sold: USD 7,080

C. Three-body, solid, polished and brushed, concave bezel and lugs, case back with screws, sapphire crystal. D. Matte silver with embossed white gold Arabic numerals, subsidiary seconds and 30-minute register dials at 6 and 12. White gold "feuille" hands. M. Cal. C 76230, gilt brass, "oeil-de-perdrix" decoration, 29 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to 5 positions, shock-absorber, self-compensating flat balance-spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 42 mm. Thickness 13 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

The "Portuguese" wristwatch originates from the 1930s, when 2 importers from Portugal requested a wristwatch from IWC, which should be reliable and at the same time feature the same size like a pocket watch. To please the clients, the watchmakers in Schaffhausen decided to use their best pocket watch movement in production at the time, and they built a large and robust steel case around it. This was the first ?Portuguese? watch and over the ensuing decades only about 600 watches of a similar kind were made. When IWC decided to re-launch the model again in the early 1990s, it became an instant success. Today the ?Portuguese? is their iconic leader model and it is produced in many variations.