- Today, IWC has revealed a new look for one of its most historically important collections, debuting the blacked-out Portugieser Chronograph Ceratanium.
- Cased in the ultra-scratch-resistant Ceratanium that we’ve seen in other collections from the brand, it’s a distinctly modern take on the Portugieser DNA.
- The IWC Portugieser Chronograph Ceratanium arrives as a limited edition of 1,500 pieces with an Australian RRP of $24,200, and will be available both online and from IWC boutiques.
IWC is no stranger to making some of the best blacked-out watches on the market, but here, we’ve got an entirely different beast than what we’ve seen before.
In the past, IWC has reserved its full black Ceratanium watches for its more obviously sporty collections, specifically, its Pilot Watches and Ingenieur range. Now, for the first time, we’ve got the stealth mode treatment in the undeniably dressier Portugieser line-up and having handled the watch, it really works.
This bold new IWC Portugieser Chronograph Ceratanium looks like it was carved out of a single block of obsidian and features a 41mm all-black Ceratanium case (13.1mm thick), a black-on-black dial, black hands, black hour markers, and even the movement is black. Naturally, the comfortable rubber strap arrives in one colour: black.
Inside beats the in-house Calibre 69355, a column-wheel chronograph movement built for robustness and longevity, serving up a solid 46-hour power reserve thanks to IWC’s double-pawl winding system.
Since 1998, the Portugieser Chronograph has been the classically shaped, retrained, and quietly confident member of the IWC catalogue, with twin subdials stacked vertically, that crisp quarter-second scale, and proportions that just work. It was dressy without being conservative, and now, it’s been reborn as something totally new. A clash of codes that feel right, but is nonetheless a lot to digest.
“With its clean, pure and timelessly relevant aesthetic, the Portugieser Chronograph has captivated me from the beginning,” said Christian Knoop, Creative Director at IWC Schaffhausen, in a statement. “I am excited to combine this unique design with Ceratanium, one of our most significant material innovations.”
“The all-black execution is different from anything we have ever done before. It emphasises the chronograph’s mere shape, ensuring that nothing distracts the eye from its distinctive silhouette.”
Beyond its monochromatic colour palette, the finish of the Ceratanium brings another angle to its appeal. With a deep, matte metallic finish, it feels technical and tactile rather than gloss or gimmicky, and as the Portugieser form steps into the world of sports watches for the first time, IWC has hit the nail on the head.
The IWC Portugieser Chronograph Ceratanium arrives as a limited edition of 1,500 pieces with an Australian RRP of $24,200, and will be available both online and from IWC boutiques.
