Horologii

IWC Schaffhausen Watches & Wonders 2023 Releases

Even before Watches & Wonders began this year, there was a lot of buzz surrounding the IWC Schaffhausen brand as to what they would be pulling out the bag. Some anticipated additional variations of their popular Pilot’s and Big Pilots watches while others sought after dressy IWC Portugieser watches. The most prominent tale in the rumour mill however was the revamp of their sporty IWC Ingenieur watch, and lo and behold, the Swiss watch brand delivered exactly that and more at the IWC Watches & Wonders 2023 showcase.

The IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40 Watches

Of all the new IWC Watches & Wonders 2023 releases, the new collection of IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40 watches has made the most noise. Many collectors have breathed a sigh of relief as the Schaffhausen-based watchmaker revives the original Genta-designed integrated look of the Ingenieur watches from the 1970’s. The 40mm, barrel-shaped case presents the familiar round bezel with five screw-like details, beautifully curved lugs, sapphire crystal glass on top, a screw down crown with crown guards and a water resistant rating of 100 metres. Like the IWC Ingenieur watches of recent years, these 1970’s inspired designs still retain an anti-magnetic cage around the brand’s manufacture automatic winding calibre 32111 with a 120 hour power reserve. Another improvement found on the IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40 watches is the dial, now adorned in a grid pattern in negative relief with large applied numerals and baton hands. There are four IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40 watches to choose from, a special titanium model and three stainless steel designs with a black, silver or dark turquoise dial.

The IWC Portofino Complete Calendar Watches

Although released slightly before the event, we’re including the new IWC Portofino Complete Calendar watch into today’s run down as we got to try it on for the first time at the IWC Watches & Wonders 2023 showcase. For the first time, the elegant architecture of the Portofino watch is joined by a complete calendar complication. Not to be confused with a perpetual calendar, which takes into account the different month lengths and leap years, a complete calendar the date will need to be changed on any months shorter than 31 days. Powering the IWC Portofino Complete Calendar watches is the IWC calibre 32150 with a 72 hour power reserve and two subsidiary dials, the moonphase and day at 12 o’clock and the date and month at 6 o’clock. The complete calendar function is displayed on a silver plated dial with gold leaf-shaped hands and elongated markers available with a 41mm stainless steel case or a more opulent 18 carat rose gold case. The steel model is completed by a blue leather strap while the gold reference secures to the wrist by a taupe leather strap.

The IWC Portofino Pointer Date Watch

Another recent addition to the IWC Portofino collection is this IWC Portofino Pointer Date watch. Once again, it’s marks another first for the Portofino as it is joined by a small pointer date subsidiary dial at 6 o’clock. The overall aesthetic of this design follows suit to the 39mm Portofino watches launched back in 2021, offering a simple round case at 39mm wide, thin lugs and elegant dials with leaf-shaped hands and elongated Roman numerals. The case is highly polished and crafted from stainless steel, complete with a casual brown calfskin leather strap equipped with IWC’s quick change system.  The dial is silver-plated with gold-plated hardware and debuts the pointer date function on a snailed, silver-plated subsidiary dial at 6 o’clock with a small blue hand. Powering the IWC Portofino Pointer Date watch is calibre 35160 with a 50-hour power reserve, sadly hidden behind a closed case back.

The IWC Portugieser Automatic 40 Salmon Watch

One of our personal favourite releases from IWC’s Watches & Wonders 2023 collection is the IWC Portugieser Automatic 40 Salmon watch. As many of you will already know, here at Horologii we have a penchant for watches with salmon-coloured dials and this IWC Portugieser is up there with one of our all-time favourites. The beautiful new salmon centrepiece is created using a rose gold treatment on a sunray-brushed base which allows the colour to change slightly depending on the light, varying from a light rose to a deep salmon pink. The dial is joined by rhodium-plated Arabic numerals and the well-known Portugieser feuille hands for the hours and minutes at the centre and the seconds at 6 o’clock. The rest of the IWC Portugieser Automatic 40 Salmon watch is exactly like the other 40mm models from the collection, electing a curved stainless steel case with a 30 metre water resistance and sapphire crystal glass on both the front and back. The latter gives you a view of the calibre 82200 automatic winding movement within with a 60 hour power reserve. The watch is completed by a black alligator leather strap and a steel folding buckle. We’ve already reviewed this watch in more detail here if you’re interested.

The IWC Pilot’s Chronograph 41 TOP Gun Oceana Ceramic Watch

For our last two IWC Watches & Wonders 2023 releases, we’re heading up into the skies to the brand’s popular Pilot’s collection and revisiting their coloured ceramic concept. Last year, IWC launched a collection called the Colours of Top Gun which saw their popular aviation instrument engineered in a range of colourful ceramic with matching dials and straps. Joining the line is two new models, an all-black version detailed below and the IWC Pilot’s Chronograph 41 TOP Gun Oceana Ceramic watch. Styled after the Pilot’s Chronograph 41, the latter is inspired by the uniforms of Navy Pilots offering a bold blue ceramic 41.9mm case, matching blue dial and a blue rubber strap with a denim textile inlay. The IWC Pilot’s Chronograph 41 TOP Gun Oceana Ceramic watch offers a 100 metre water resistant rating and chronograph complication fuelled by the manufacture calibre 69380 with a 46 hour power reserve.

The IWC Pilot’s Chronograph 41 TOP Gun Black Ceramic Watch

Finally, the IWC Pilot’s Chronograph 41 TOP Gun Black Ceramic watch mirrors the blue ceramic model but is instead done entirely in black. It’s a more traditional, no-nonsense pilot’s watch with a matte black 41.9mm case with steel pushers and a crown, a matching black dial and a jet black rubber strap. For contrast and easy legibility, the dial is adorned with pure white markers and tracks and large Superluminova hands for the hours and minutes. The case offers the same 100 metre water resistance, screw in crown and screwed down case back and sapphire crystal glass on top. The automatic winding calibre 69380 is also the same with a 46 hour power reserve and the rubber strap is equipped with IWC’s EasX-CHANGE system so you can effortlessly swap around the band for another of your choice. We have plans to get hands-on with this IWC Watches & Wonders 2023 release soon so keep your eyes peeled.

If you’d like to learn more about the IWC Watches & Wonders 2023 watch releases and secure some designs for yourself, head over to the Jura Watches website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at help@jurawatches.co.uk.