IWC Portofino Automatic Moon Phase CHF 6'900 40mm Mens Watch IW459401

In 1984, IWC created the Portofino collection. The family was named after the idyllic village on the Italian coast, which became an exclusive holiday destination for the international jet-set during the 1950s and 1960s. Since that day, Portofino watches have successfully combined the ease of the Mediterranean lifestyle with a touch of glamour and elegance. The Portofino Automatic Moon Phase is the first Portofino timepiece with a case diameter of 40 millimetres that also features a moon phase display. Until now, this popular complication was only offered in 45 millimetres or 37 millimetres. This timepiece is housed in a classic stainless steel case. The golden moon set against the blue night sky creates a beautiful contrast to the silver-plated dial, as well as the gold-plated hands and appliqués. This casual yet elegant watch is fitted with a hand-painted brown alligator leather strap.

It takes the moon 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 2.9 seconds to orbit the earth. The classic moon phase mechanism is rounded to 29.5 days. However, setting a mechanical gear train to half days is not the simplest of tasks. This is why the simpler version of the moon phase display uses a gear train with 59 teeth for two sets of 29.5 days. In the 50000-calibre family, first unveiled in 2015, larger moon phase wheels with a higher number of teeth reduce the deviation so drastically that a future inheritor of the watch would theoretically need to take it to a watchmaker to have the moon phase display adjusted by only 1 day in 577.5 years.

SPECIFICATIONS

Case
Stainless steel

Diameter
40mm

Height
11.1mm

Water resistance
30 Metres

Movement
- 35800 Calibre
- Automatic, self-winding
- 42 Hours power reserve
- Frequency 28800 vph (4.0 hz)
- 171 Components
- 25 Jewels
- Cotes de geneve, perlage

Dial
Silver-plated dial

Strap
Dark brown alligator leather strap

Features
- Moon phase display
- Sapphire glass, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
- Central hacking seconds