The Hour Glass and IWC, along with IWC motoring partner, Mercedes, teamed up last week to bring the new Portugieser collection to Brisbane, showcasing them to a group of eager enthusiasts!
Last week on a cool winter’s night (for Brisbane that is), The Hour Glass and IWC heated things up a little with an event at The Hour Glass’s new event space on Edward Street for watch enthusiasts. On show was the new IWC Portugieser collection that the brand from Schaffhausen unveiled at Watches & Wonder back in April. These were some of the best mainstream releases this year at the show, which if you followed our coverage of Watches & Wonders 2024, or anyone’s for that matter, was more geared to the high end of watchmaking, and price points to go with that. Whilst IWC brought out their own heavy hitter in the form of the Portugieser Eternal Calendar, recently awarded the Guinness World Record for the most precise lunar phase wristwatch, they also re-launched their Portugieser collection in both steel and precious metals, along with new colourways to match.
RELATED READING: IWC Re-Launches Portugieser Perpetual Calendar 44
Mirroring the times of the day as part of IWC’s “Tribute To Eternity” theme (Morning Dew, Horizon Blue, Dune, and Obsidian), the refined Portugieser collection has something for everyone, which is exactly what we saw when we went along to The Hour Glass x IWC event last week. From the Automatic 40 collection, right through to the Perpetual Calendar models, the new Portugiser collection has been designed to suit a range of wrist sizes and personal tastes, not to mention budgets.
Guests had the opportunity to go hands-on with the collection, with The Hour Glass’s staff there to assist, talk through each piece on display, and give people a first-hand experience with these on the wrist. We’ve said many times over, that it’s the only way to know a watch is right for you, try it on!
RELATED READING: IWC Launches The Portugieser Automatic 40mm
As a bit of a treat for all, the team from Mercedes-Benz was in attendance, with Mercedes being IWC’s motoring partner, to talk a little about the partnership and to also show off the new Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG as well as the G-Wagon for those that wanted to jump in them and take them for a spin around the city.
Talking to guests, as well as The Hour Glass staff, it seemed that there were a few definite favourites on the night. The Obsidian chronograph in rose gold was a hit with the crowd. I saw this piece being in hot demand across the night. The other stand-out for many, myself included was the 44mm Perpetual Calendar in Amor Gold and silver dial on the brown alligator strap.
IWC prides itself on its Perpetual Calendar, and rightfully so. Developed by the legendary watchmaker, Kurt Klaus, it houses a special reduction gear, with the moonphase indication only deviating from the moon’s actual orbit by one day after 577.7 years. One other point to note is that the dial on this is manufactured in a complex process comprising 60 individual steps. The dial’s depth is created by applying 15 layers of transparent lacquer, which is fine-ground and then polished to a high gloss finish. Admittedly, it’s very nice in person and one of those pieces to add to your list if you’re in the market for a Perpetual Calendar.
RELATED READING: Our Experience At The IWC Manufacture
Overall it was a great night, and it was good to see so many new faces as well at a watch event with many of the guests being long-time watch lovers who are not as active in the community as those who have gone down the watch rabbit hole! I was also impressed with the new event space for The Hour Glass as it allows for events like this – less formal with drinks and canapès where guests can mingle easily and see what is on show. Hopefully there will be more of these in Brisbane in the future.
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