Introducing – IWC Portugieser Chronograph Rattrapante Limited Edition “Boutique Milano” – The Comeback of the Split-Seconds Portugieser

The IWC Portugieser is probably, as you might all be aware of, the most iconic piece of the Schaffhausen-based manufacture. One edition however has a special status in our heart, mainly because of its complicated split-seconds movement (we love split-seconds here…) and because of the man behind the development of the movement and the module, Richard Habring. This watch was unfortunately out of the production for 10 years, and we know that some collectors were dreaming of a re-birth – and it’s about to arrive, with the new IWC Portugieser Chronograph Rattrapante Limited Edition “Boutique Milano”, the comeback of the Split-Seconds Portugieser.

This new IWC Portugieser Chronograph Rattrapante Limited Edition “Boutique Milano” is the faithful descendant of an icon in the IWC collection, the Portuguese Chronograph Rattrapante (at that time the Portugieser was still the Portuguese…). This watch, properly understated visually – as very close from the normal Portugieser Chronograph, to the exception of the additional pusher at 10 – was proposed for the last time in 2006 and since then, the concept of a split-seconds chronograph movement – and what an ingenious movement – on the Portugieser has been away from the catalogue. Longly awaited, this combination now comes back in the collection – but be aware that you’ll have to be fast to get your hands on it, as we’re talking about a limited edition, especially for the new IWC Boutique in Milano, Italia.

Technically, this new IWC Portugieser Chronograph Rattrapante Limited Edition “Boutique Milano” is entirely the same as the older version, meaning that it features the same movement, based on a 7750, with extremely clever rattrapante module developed by Richard Habring, at that time employee of the Schaffhausen-based manufacture. This movement, the Doppelchronograph, made accessible a complication that is usually extremely costly and hard to produce, by having a simplified module adaptable one external movements. The Calibre 76240 is in fact based on a Valjoux 7760 (the hand-wound version of the 7750) with an additional split-seconds module. The rattrapante function is activated by the pusher at 10.

The new IWC Portugieser Chronograph Rattrapante Limited Edition uses the same balanced and elegant display, with totalizers places at 12 and 6 – and no date, no 12-hour counter. However, if the technical part is the same, the layout of the dial is entirely new, and very appealing. Placed on the central zone is a first scale, with tachymeter. Then, on the periphery of the dial, on the inner flange is a second scale, a telemeter. The rest remains faithful to the Portugieser collection, with leaf hands and typical applied numerals.

The classical 41mm case of the IWC Portugieser Chronograph Rattrapante (still the same diameter as the one that has been stopped in 2006) is here made in 18k red gold. The dial comes in the superb IWC blue, with hands and indexes matching the case. The back is engraved with the “Biscione”, the grass snake, of the Milanese Visconti family, the symbol and emblem of the city. Each watch will be numbered “01/100” and as you can imagine, this will be a limited edition of 100 pieces. The official retail price is € 21,500 Euros.

Specifications of the IWC Portugieser Chronograph Rattrapante Limited Edition “Boutique Milano”

• Case: 41mm diameter, 12.5mm height – 18k red gold – sapphire crystal on front, plain back with engraving – 30m water resistant
• Movement: IWC Calibre 76240, with in-house rattrapante module – hand-wound – 48h power reserve – 28,800 vibrations/h – hours, minutes, small seconds, split-seconds chronograph
• Strap: black alligator leather strap with 18k red gold pin buckle
• ref. IW371215