IWC Schaffhausen Portofino watches

The IWC Portofino is IWC's classic-styled dress watch line. IWC launched it in 1984 with reference 5251, which showed a moon phase at 3 o'clock and was driven by a pocket-watch movement made in Schaffhausen. The engraved case back with a view of the town of Portofino is a familiar feature of the line.

In 2011 IWC set out to re-energise the collection. One of that year's new models was the Portofino Hand-Wound Eight Days (ref. 5101): a 45 mm case 12 mm thick, the hand-wound calibre 59210 with an eight-day power reserve, and a dial of baton markers around a Roman 12, with the date at 3 o'clock and small seconds at 6. The other Hand-Wound models share the 45 mm case: Big Date, Day & Date, Monopusher, Tourbillon Rétrograde and the Hand-Wound Moonphase, which also runs for eight days.

The Portofino Automatic is made from 34 to 40 mm, with moon-phase versions at 37 and 40 mm. Several earlier 34 mm models were called Midsize; in 2014 IWC gave the name to a new 37 mm range, and at the same time set the bezel of the 40 mm Automatic with 72 diamonds, in white or red gold. The Portofino Chronograph measures 39 to 42 mm. The line also includes MecaQuartz chronographs, among them a 29 mm Lady Chronograph and a 35 mm version, a 32 mm yellow gold Ultra-Thin and the 43.7 mm Pure Classic.

Special editions run through the range: 150 Years versions of the Chronograph and the Hand-Wound Eight Days Moonphase, Laureus editions in several models, film-festival pieces for Tribeca and Beijing, and Harrods and Lafayette editions of the Eight Days. Some Laureus Charity Night watches are unique pieces in platinum or white gold.