Haute Complication: IWC Portugieser Constant-Force Tourbillon Edition “150 Years”

With so much attention going to the breathtaking IWC “Tribute to Pallweber,” some other watches of the Jubilee collection did not get the attention that they would normally warrant. Such was for sure the case of the most complicated, and technically imposing watch of IWC’s anniversary collection, the Portugieser Constant-Force Tourbillon Edition “150 Years”.

For this IWC has combined its manual wind constant-force tourbillon with a moon phase complication. As befitting for accomplicated watch such as this, IWC opted for a high-precision moon phase, which only needs adjusting once every 577.5 years. Visually the result is quite spectacular, as the moon phase indicator, which IWC kept traditional with a disc, falls in nicely with the numerals, just under the minute indicating “railroad track.” It is balanced by the power reserve indicator, right below it. The power reserve of this watch is very impressive, given its complicated nature, and measures 96 hours.

The real highlight of the watch is, of course, the constant-force tourbillon, which dominates the left side of the watch. Fitted with a seconds hand, you can see the tourbillon mechanism clearly underneath the skeletonized bridge. Thanks to a constant-force mechanism the tourbillon gets a very stable supply of power, which ensures the even greater accuracy of this gravity-defying device.

What I find one of the most appealing qualities of IWC in general, and this Constant-Force Tourbillon especially, is that their manufacture movements are always such a perfect fit for the cases. This one is no exception, as the Caliber 94805  fits perfectly into its 46mm Portugieser case. The result is not only that the dial has a perfectly spaced layout but also that the back of the watch is a beauty to behold. It is in fact, all movement that you see, perfectly finished and adorned with blued screws and Geneva stripping.

IWC will be offering their Portugieser Constant-Force Tourbillon Edition “150 Years” in two varieties, both with a platinum case. One has a classic lacquered white dial, with blued dials, while the other one combines a blue lacquered dial with rhodium-plated hands. Each version will be limited to just 15 pieces, and costs $ 249.000,-