IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar Edition “150 Years”

The Portugieser Perpetual Calendar Edition “150 Years” is part of the limited-edition collection IWC launched to celebrate its 150th anniversary — and it stands out as one of the most notable perpetual calendars of 2018. The watch masterfully combines high mechanical complexity with remarkable clarity and legibility, while offering an impressive 7-day power reserve.

The 44.2mm rose gold case represents a balanced proportion for such a sophisticated complication. Its white lacquered dial possesses a semi-translucent, enamel-like sheen, enhancing contrast and making the black subdials and numerals easy to read.

Despite the wealth of information displayed, the dial is intuitively organized:

The subdial at 3 o’clock combines date and power reserve indication.
The subdial at 6 o’clock shows the month.
Between 7 and 8 o’clock, a four-digit year display is elegantly integrated.
The subdial at 9 o’clock presents the day of the week and running seconds.
At 12 o’clock, a double moon-phase display simultaneously depicts the moon’s phases in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

The perpetual calendar mechanism maintains date accuracy until the year 2100, automatically accounting for leap years and varying month lengths.

Turning the watch over reveals the in-house Caliber 52615 automatic movement, operating at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz). The movement features IWC’s proprietary bidirectional Pellaton winding system and twin barrels, providing an exceptional 7-day power reserve — a particularly convenient feature for a perpetual calendar, requiring winding only once per week.

Limited to 250 pieces, the Portugieser Perpetual Calendar Edition “150 Years” is priced at €40,200, offering exceptional value within the realm of haute horlogerie.