The Portofino collection has always been a line in which IWC captured “La Dolce Vita,” the good life. While the brand has quite a reputation when it comes to no-nonsense pilot’s watches, the Portofino has always been distinctly different. Ever since it was first launched in 1984, it stood out by more elegant lines. It shows a different side of IWC, in which sober, almost minimalistic design creates a sense of timeless beauty and luxury. This is also what we find in the three chronographs that IWC welcomes to the Portofino collection.
The Portofino collection has always been a line in which IWC captured "La Dolce Vita," the good life. While the brand has quite a reputation when it comes to no-nonsense pilot's watches, the Portofino has always been distinctly different. Ever since it was first launched in 1984, it stood out by more elegant lines. It shows a different side of IWC, in which sober, almost minimalistic design creates a sense of timeless beauty and luxury. This is also what we find in the three chronographs that IWC welcomes to the Portofino collection.
These new watches are not entirely different from the existing ones in the collection. What sets them apart the most is their difference in size. Where the current ones measure 42mm in diameter, the new ones are only 39mm. This makes them more suitable for smaller wrist sizes as the proportions are redefined. While the 42mm Portofino Chronograph still has a sportive edge, slimming it down to 39mm adds a generous dash of elegance. The same can be said for the dial colors in which IWC is offering their new chronograph. It is available with either a silver or black dial, with gold-plated hands. This gives a vintage touch that works very well.
The third version of the Portofino Chronograph is perhaps a bit unexpected, or maybe not. Green is definitely the new trend color in the watch world, and IWC went for a luscious pine-green hue that really comes to life thanks to a sunburst motif. The power of this dial, as well as the other two, is amplified by the convex sapphire crystal. Thanks to an anti-reflective coating on both sides of the crystal, it seems like there isn’t one at all, making the dial speak even more. All three have the same movement inside their stainless steel case, caliber 79350, an automatic chronograph caliber with a 44-hour power reserve.
