For years, the Portofino line from IWC Schaffhausen was seen as the silent star of the company’s product portfolio. Subject to continuous development, the line has increasingly been the focus of attention from watch devotees, its appeal based on minimalist design and discreet elegance. Now, in the shape of the Portofino Hand-Wound Pure Classic, the family has a new addition that celebrates the art of understatement with i ts own distinctive charm and style. 

A wristwatch could hardly be more modest: with two hands and a winding crown, it has nothing to distract from the purist lines and clear-cut dial design. After all, the soul of genuine elegance lies in the art of omission. The Portofino Hand-Wound Pure Classic (Ref. IW511101/IW511102) dispenses with any form of embellishment and was designed, purely and simply, to show the time of day. It also radiates composure and an undiluted aesthetic. It has a traditional, arched-edge front glass, which not only makes the 43.5-millimetre diameter of this harmonious model seem smaller than it actually is, but also gives the watch a classic,balanced appearance. In order to make the overall impression as discreet as possible, even the power reserve display has been moved to the back of the watch, where it can be seen through the sapphire-glass back. 

PEERLESS MECHANICS IN A TRADITIONAL DESIGN 

The IWC hand-wound 59060 calibre is famed for its stamina:fully wound, with no further action required, it will continue running for precisely 192 hours or 8 full days. Only then will the owner need to replenish its store of energy by winding the watch via the crown. Two large bridges concealthe rear of the movement almost entirely, leaving just the balance on view. This contemporary watch design guarantees an impressive level of robustness and reliability.The upper bridge serves as a bearing for the barrel, the differential and the winding mechanism, while the lower bridge fulfils the same function for the power reserve displayand conceals the train-wheel bridge below. All bridgesare exquisitely decorated with Geneva stripes. The movement also features an indexless balance, which has four golden weight screws on the balance rim to facilitate precision adjustment. As is standard for most modern watch movements, it oscillates at a frequency of 4 hertz, or 28,800 beats per hour. Like the Breguet spring bent into shape in using traditional watchmaking techniques, this also helps to make the watch extremely precise.

The Portofino Hand-Wound Pure Classic in red gold (Ref. IW511101) sports a silver-plated dial and gold-plated hands and indices as well as a dark brown leather strap. The stainless-steel ver-sion (Ref. IW511102) is available with a silver-plated dial, rhodium-plated hands and indices and a black leather strap. The high-quality straps are made exclusively for IWC Schaffhausen by renowned Italian shoe manufacturer Santoni,now run by the second generation of the family in the form of Giuseppe Santoni. A complex technique during the manufacturing process endows the leather with a patina that results in the characteristic gradation of colour. The technique makes the leather appear as though it has been lovingly used for several years, although it is, in fact, brand new.

Another instantly recognizable Santoni feature is the orange leather lining found on the inner surface of the strap. All the charm and aesthetic appeal of life in southern Europe is united in the perfect craftsmanship of both watch and strap. The Portofino Hand-Wound Pure Classic is available in an unlimited edition exclusively at selected IWC boutiques