Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. IWC Gives the Stylish Portofino Chronograph 39 a Stainless Steel Bracelet
For the first time ever, the emblematic Portofino can be worn on a steel-on-steel multi-link bracelet.
When it comes to icons, every brand wishes to have at least one in the ranks, but few brands can claim to have several cornerstone collections. One such brand is IWC, which can always count on the Big Pilot, Portugieser and Portofino to entice watch lovers. The Portofino, first introduced in 1984, quickly garnered a reputation for its timeless elegance. However, one thing that has always been absent in the Portofino range is a stainless steel multi-link bracelet. Making its debut on the Portofino Chronograph 39, this gives a decisively more sporty vibe to an all-time classic.
Since its introduction four decades ago, the Portofino has made a name for itself as the elegantly proportioned, easy-to-wear watch. Most often, it is fitted to a leather strap, although mesh bracelets have been introduced in the past. With this new brushed and polished 5-link steel bracelet, IWC shifts the Portofino Chronograph 39 from a sporty-chic watch into a distinctly more sporty spotlight. IWC has cleverly incorporated its quick-release system so you can dress up or down if you want.
The new bracelet is paired with a steel case and a sleek silvery-white dial. Despite the familiar architecture, it remains a pure and fresh-looking watch every time we get our hands on one. The slender applied markers, the vertical layout of the sub-dials, the polished leaf-shaped hands and the fine minutes track simply work. The classically proportioned case is fully polished, with straight curved lugs and mushroom-shaped pushers flanking the crown. As its name suggests, the case is 39mm in diameter, with a height of 13mm.
IWC introduced its new in-house automatic chronograph movement calibre IW 69355 when it updated this very watch two years ago. This is equipped with a column wheel and vertical clutch system to ensure a smooth engagement of the chronograph. It runs at a frequency of 28,800vph and has a 46-hour power reserve. Unlike most other Portofino’s, the movement is revealed thanks to the sapphire crystal caseback.
The Portofino Chronograph 39 on this new multi-link steel bracelet has a sticker price of CHF 7,600. That makes it CHF 1,000 more expensive than its leather-strapped counterpart, which seems quite a stretch. Nevertheless, in terms of style, there’s little to fault with this one.
For more information, please visit IWC.com.
3 responses
This is indeed a nice improvement although I would question why the Portofino line is needed at all given that the Portuguese line is similar (and in my view much nicer looking).
Those silver hands on the white dial are so hard to read. It would take me 5 minutes to read the time if I had this watch.
Very well done. IWC never disappoints.