As one of the most successful lines from the Schaffhausen brand—the IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser has been setting standards in the world of luxury watches for over 80 years. It owes its name and origins to two Portuguese IWC importers from Porto and Lisbon, who were looking for “precise, generously proportioned men's watches in steel cases” as far back as the late 1930s.

The Debut of the IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser

The watchmakers in Schaffhausen fulfilled this wish by creating a watch with a diameter of 42 millimeters, which was gigantic by the standards of the time. Inside, they put a high-precision Savonette caliber from their workshop. The technology of the pocket watch movement ensured the utmost accuracy, of course. And so the impressively simple, oversized and very accurate IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser made its debut with its marine chronometer style.

IWC Portugieser—Watchmaking of the Highest Level

This laid the foundation stone for a watch line that is still one of, if not the best, known line from IWC Schaffhausen. No other line combines more manufacturing expertise in Haute Horlogerie than the IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser. Its timeless and distinctive design with its simple Arabic numerals, the “chemin de fer”—the so-called railroad minute hand—and its well-balanced dial mean that it has long since become an icon of the art of watchmaking, and the line is further complemented by models with a wide range of sophisticated complications.

IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser at Wempe

Wempe has been offering a variety of watches from IWC Schaffhausen, including selected models from the Portugieser line, since 1928. If you can't find your favorite model online, we look forward to seeing you in one of our showrooms. Along with personal advice, we also offer extensive services for your watch, like cleaning and care as well as professional repairs.