CONQUERING THE EAST!

At the last Dubai Watch Week IWC introduced a specially designed timepiece for Middle Eastern collectors, with the tourbillon in the spotlight.

The Portugieser collection by IWC, created in the 1930s, was a response to a specific request from two Portuguese merchants, and used movements from hunter-case watches with the calibre 74 and 98. For collectors in the Middle East, the watchmakers from Schaffhouse unveiled the Portugieser Tourbillon Middle East Special Edition at the last Dubai Watch Week, in partnership with the Seddiqi family, fervent supporters of the brand.

This limited edition features a visually very attractive dial in a deep emerald green colour and a one-minute flying tourbillon at 9 o’clock. The Portugieser Tourbillon Middle East Special Edition has a 43mm-wide case, together with a black alligator leather strap. At its heart is nestling the in-house calibre 98900, which is hand-wound and has a power reserve of almost 54 hours. IWC has designed a watch that is both elegant and impressive.

The pink gold on the hour and minute hands, and the power reserve, echo the gold on the Roman numeral indices set around the railroad on the dial. The dual tones, with pink gold on the dial elements and steel for the case, reflect the harmonious blend of materials used by IWC in this collectors’ edition. Lastly, the Portugieser Tourbillon Middle East Special Edition comes with the brand’s signature element: a variable inertia balance, which can be seen through the sapphire crystal caseback. As a proof of unique skills, this ultra-limited edition will be available to just 25 collectors, and only in shops in the Middle East region.

Price on request

By Isabelle Guignet