The Portuguese Automatic is growing on me!
The intricate beauty of this watch goes without saying but that's not the only aspect of this watch. It comes equipped with a superbly crafted folding clasp and a very nice dark blue crocodile leather strap. The lug width of 22 is the right size for the size of the watch and makes it very comfortable on the wrist. The clasp closes firmly and with a little 'click' so the owner will immediately know it is closed correctly.
The finishing of the two-piece case is great with brushed and polished parts to give it a distinghuished look. The back has a screw thread, adding to the structural strength and providing a water resistance of 30 meters which is more than enough for this watch. The crown proudly wears the Probus Scafusia logo.
On the inside, IWC has done a splendid job too with the in-house caliber 51010 with Breguet spring, ticking at 3 Hz and having a seven day power reserve, wound by the famous Pellaton winding system. All of this beauty can be observed through the sapphire glass back. The 51010 movement has 44 functional jewels and is adjusted to five positions. The rotor is equipped with a 18 carat yellow gold medaillon.
Turning the watch over will reveal a dial that is clean yet stunning. The two small subdials are slightly recessed and have a circular Guilloché pattern. The Power Reserve display has a touch of red to indicate the last day. The numerals are applied (appliqué) and are blued steel just like the hands. The legibility is very good and none of the numerals are cut off. The date display at 6 o clock is very legible too. The convex, antireflective sapphire glass seems to disappear and enhances the great legibility even further.
With the Portuguese Automatic, IWC has created a timeless icon that will provide years of pleasure to its owner, in this case me! I hope to pass it on to my children one day but not before I have enjoyed it for a long, long time.
