IWC
PORTUGIESER
CHRONOGRAPH
CLASSIC
WHEN IWC DEBUTED A REDESIGNED PORTUGIESER CHRONOGRAPH
CLASSIC IN 2013 with Ref. 3904, it did so well after SIHH that year, when the
band focused attention on its much broader Ingenieur re-launch. Four years
later, IWC has again tweaked the storied Portugieser Chronograph Classic
with Ref. 3903, with what it calls an ‘updated’ design, an attribute that at fi rst
glance seems like a strange direction for a watch named Classic.
But fear not. IWC has merely neatened up the typical Portugieser railway-
track-style chapter ring by removing the seconds subdivision, and at the
same time has covered the dial with a slightly more dressy convex sapphire
crystal. In a related move to a cleaner design, IWC also removed the red
accents from the combined chronograph subdial at the 12 o’clock position
and has slimmed the hands a bit. Inside you’ll still fi nd IWC’s own caliber
8 9361 chronograph fl yback with the long 68-hour power reserve.
IWC will off er three versions of the new Portugieser Chronograph Classic.
One, the top-of-the-line, features an 18-karat red gold case and a silver-plated
dial, golden hands and appliqués. It is fi tted with a hand-fi nished brown
alligator leather strap. Two models are available with a stainless-steel case
and a black alligator leather strap. One features a silver-plated dial and blue
hands and appliqués while the other has a very nice blue dial and rhodium-
plated hands and markers.
Prices: $20,100 (gold) and $12,100 (both steel models).
SUMMER 2017 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | 45