Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

New York, Jun 14, 2006

LOT 92

"Portuguese Automatic 2000" International Watch Co., Schaffhausen, "Portuguese Automatic 2000", No. 282/ 750. Made in a limited edition of 750 examples in 2000 to commemorate the new millennium. Very fine and rare, large, self-winding, 18K pink gold gentleman?s wristwatch with 7-day power reserve and an 18K pink gold IWC buckle. Accompanied by a fitted box and a certificate.

USD 10,000 - 12,000

EUR 8,000 - 9,000

Sold: USD 16,520

C. Three-body, solid, polished and brushed, concave lugs, transparent case back. D. Satiné silver with applied pink gold Arabic numerals, subsidiary dials for the seconds and the up-and-down indication. Pink gold "feuille" hands. M. Cal. 5000, rhodiumplated. "fausses côtes" decoration, 44 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to 5 positions, shock absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance spring, skeletonized bi-directional rotor with gold medallion inlay engraved "IWC -Probus Scafusia - Seven (7) Days Power-Reserve". Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 42 mm. Thickness 14 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 was to be reliable and at the same time be similar in size to a pocket watch. The Schaffhausen watchmakers decided to use the best pocket watch movement they had in production at the time, building 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 leading model and is produced in many variations.