The new IWC Portugieser Eternal Calendar watch is inspired by the eternal cycle of day and night and is available in four new colors: Horizon Blue, Dune, Obsidian and Silver Moon. This is the brand's first century perpetual calendar watch, which not only automatically recognizes the length of different months and leap years, but also converts the irregular Gregorian calendar into a mechanical program for the watch. The newly designed gear with 400 years as the unit ensures that the Eternal Calendar watch automatically skips the three non-leap years in 400 years.
The 44.4mm case with a height of 14.9mm is made of platinum with a mix of polished surfaces and brushed casebands. Encased in the iconic Portugieser style, the Eternal Calendar introduces a contemporary element with its glass dial, which reveals the underlying calendar mechanisms. This is achieved through the use of a sapphire bridge within the calendar module, a first for IWC in employing this material structurally in a movement. This extensive application of sapphire not only showcases the movement's intricate technicality but also brings the inner workings visibly to the forefront, enhancing both the watch's aesthetic and mechanical allure.
On the flipside is a sapphire exhibition caseback that allows a view into the inner workings of the mechanical movement. It features blued screws, Geneva stripes on the bridges, milled anglage, and perlage on the main plate are meticulously executed. The rotor, crafted from 18-carat gold, also includes an intricately cast IWC emblem. The original Kurt Klaus calendar module is recognized for its classical approach, utilizing a traditional 48-month cam and grand lever while innovatively eliminating the need for case correctors. Instead, all adjustments to the calendar are made via the crown, though this system only allows settings to be advanced forward.
