This is certainly going to be a great year for the refreshed Portofino range of entry-luxury watches. Besides the dressy Portofino Dual Time and the elegant Portofino Hand-Wound Eight Days, IWC has also presented a face-lifted Portofino Automatic (Ref. 3565): a modern-classic three-hander with a simple calendar.
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IWC Portofino Hand-Wound Eight Days Caliber 59210
Playing on the crowded field of -ahem- “affordable” luxury dress watches, the Portofino range has always been somewhat of an ugly duck in the family of beautiful swans. Now, however, updated with the 2011 IWC Portofino Hand-Wound Eight Days Caliber 59210 (Ref. 5101) model, the collection has been moved a tad upmarket.
IWC 98300-Based Ralph Lauren Sporting
The U.S.-based fashion brand Ralph Lauren is serious about its attempt to expand its reach beyond expensive clothing and luxury accessories and to become a real watchmaking specialist even though they still can’t afford to make their movements. At the SIHH 2011 trade show, the fashion house has presented its vintage-styled (or, rather, vintage-inspired) Sporting Collection. Featuring a hand-wound “pocket watch” caliber from IWC, it comes in a deliberately oversized case that serves as a (pretty massive, I must note) steel frame for the “historic”, speedometer-styled dial.
IWC Ingenieur Edition Zinedine Zidane Edition IW500508
The French soccer player has once again partnered with IWC to offer the second “special edition” of the Ingenieur Edition Zinedine Zidane (Ref. IW500508) model, which is now limited to only 500 units.
Frozen Flame: IWC Portuguese Perpetual Calendar
IWC has once again updated its gorgeous Portuguese Perpetual Calendar range extending the line with three extra models and two choices of metal. Besides an older version in platinum (Ref. IW502305,) you can now get it in red gold (Ref. IW502306) and white gold (Ref. IW502307,) too.
SIHH 2010: IWC Da Vinci Chronograph Ceramic IW3766
I can hardly believe my eyes. At this year’s SIHH 2010 show, IWC has finally expanded the Da Vinci collection with its first-ever ceramic (!) model. Judging by the looks of it, the 2010 Da Vinci Chronograph Ceramic (Ref. IW3766) is going to be even more successful than the rose gold members of the Da Vinci family.