5 IWC Boutique Exclusives

Jun 28, 2014,23:10 PM
 

Regular production pieces are more accessible in either boutiques or authorised dealers.  However, boutique exclusive pieces are only available in brands' boutiques and are limited number of pieces in production.  Within this post, we will have a quick look at five of the more current IWC Boutique Exclusive pieces ...


Portuguese Perpetual calendar (REF. IW502308)  


This nice looking 44.20mm steel IWC Portuguese Perpetual calendar is limited to 500 pieces.  The height of the case is 15.50mm and has a water-resistant rating to 3 Bar.


Silver-plated dial with rhodium-plated hands, providing all the calender information and moonphase  in one glance.

It is paired with a dark brown alligator leather strap and steel folding clasp buckle.


Superb clarity as the convex sapphire crystal is both sides anti-reflective coated.


Case work is with dual-polishing, with the side of the caseband brush-polished while the rest in contrasting gloss-polish.


At the back is transparent sapphire caseback displaying their inhouse Caliber 51613, with Pellaton automatic winding system and Breguet overcoil hairspring and small-second hacking capability.
It beats at 3Hz and has a power reserve of 7 days (168 hours).


Rotor is signed with '1 out of 500' and adorned with a 18K gold medallion.





The Ingenieur Automatic Carbon Performance Ceramic (REF. IW322404)
   


This Ingenieur Automatic Carbon Performance Ceramic is limited to 1000 pieces.  The carbon fibre case inspired by the materials used in FORMULA ONE motor racing for lightweight and strength.

Case diameter is 46mm by 14.5mm height and has a water-resistant rated to 12bars.

The whole case construction is interesting, made up of three types of materials : carbon fibre, ceramic and titanium.


Starting from the top .... the bezel is of polished ceramic, secured by five titanium screws and capped with ceramic screw-heads through the polished top side carbon fibre caseband.

The dial is of carbon fibre too.


A side elevation for the impressive construction ...


The matt crown protector and screw-in crown are also of ceramic too.


Look at the precise polishing to obtain the gloss top surface carbon fibre with the sides still showing the layered fibres.


Ceramic screw-heads ...

Flat sapphire crystal with both sides anti-reflective coated for fantastic glare reduction thus great clarity of the dial.


Titanium ardillon buckle and rubber strap with embossed calfskin inlay strap stitched with green thread as an allusion to the stripes on the outer walls of the tyres fitted to the cars for racing in wet condition.


Sapphire caseback with titanium case-back ring displaying the 4Hz automatic IWC-manufactured calibre 80110 with a power reserve of 44 hours.






The Pilot’s Chronograph Edition “Le Petit Prince” (REF : IW377706)


The third edition of the Pilot’s Chronograph Edition “Le Petit Prince” , a non-limited edition.

Spotting an attractive and clean midnight blue dial in a 43mm stainless steel case.  The hands and appliqués at  12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock are coated with Super-LumiNova.


Most areas are brush-polished, only the bezel, pushers and crown are gloss polished.




Superb clarity of the sapphire, as coated on both sides with anti-reflective coatings, really accentuates the beauty of this midnight blue dial.

Matched with a very supple brown calfskin strap with quilted stitching and a stainless-steel pin buckle.


Solid caseback with the engraving of the Little Prince.  Within is the automatic 4Hz Calibre 79320, with a power reserve of 44 hours.





Another nice blue dial edition - The Portuguese Chronograph Classic Edition “Laureus Sport for Good Foundation” (Ref.IW390406)   


Stainless steel case, 42mm with the signature Laureus blue dial, slender feuille hands and applied Arabic numeral hour-markers.
Limited to 1000 pieces and part of the proceeds from the sale of these  timepieces goes directly to the Laureus Foundation and  contributes to the funding of its projects.

Both the hour and minute counters are combined in one subdial or  totalizer at 12H, for quick read out.


Brush-polish on the side of the caseband while the rest is gloss finished.


Solid caseback with the engraving of the artwork by one of the participants in a  'Laureus Sport for Good  Foundation projects' drawing competition.  This edition is from a 16-year-old, Masha Nikulina from the  Russian Federation.
The theme is "Time to Play".
Within is the 4Hz IWC-manufactured automatic Calibre 89361 with flyback capability and a power reserve of 68 hours.

The Laureus piece is matched with a black  alligator leather strap by Italian high-end shoe manufacturer  Santoni.





The Portuguese Yacht Club Chronograph (REF. IW390208)  


This diameter 45.4mm  rubber-coated stainless steel  Portuguese Yacht Club Chronograph is limited to 250 pieces.


Featuring a crown guard flanked by flat-top chrono-pushers.


Black dial with red chronograph-second-hand.  Hour and minute hands and the hour appliques are coated with SuperLuminova.
Sapphire crystal is coated with both sides anti-reflective.


Most surfaces are coated with matt-rubber.  The gloss polished bezel add a gleam to the contrast the black matt case.


Case is matched with black rubber strap and a stainless steel folding clasp, much suited for water-sports and also warm-humid areas.


Within is with the robust IWC Calibre 89361 as the above Laureus Portugese Chronograph.





Hope you enjoy the above 5 IWC Boutique Exclusives.  Any piece/s attracted you ? smile


Kong





This message has been edited by Kong on 2014-06-28 23:11:39

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Comments: view entire thread

 

The "Le Petit Prince" is so attractive that ...

 
 By: nilomis : June 29th, 2014-03:59
My wife give it to me. I went to the Boutique to grab my new Aquatimer Automatic with my wife and she saw the "Prince". Her single comment was "What a beauty. You must own it" and ... Done. I'm sure that I made "a monster". This is the second watch that s...  

Nice Nilo!

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : June 29th, 2014-04:25
You are a blessed man indeed ! :) Cheers Robin

Blessed, yes but ...

 
 By: nilomis : June 29th, 2014-09:48
My wife is a Purist on the making. You need to see, and you will, one of my acquisition that she "confiscated". Cheers, Nilo

Wow!

 
 By: Kong : June 29th, 2014-19:34
Congrats Nilo. Your wife is understanding and treats you like her Prince. For 2 pieces, did you reciprocate with something? :-) Thanks for sharing your 'Le Petit Prince', the blue dial looks very good and deep under daylight. Kong

Very nice Nilo...

 
 By: patrick_y : June 30th, 2014-03:37
I'm sure your Le Petite Prince to your wife. That's why she got you that watch, to remind you of whom you are to her. Her attractive little Prince. You're a lucky man Nilo.

Funny point is ...

 
 By: nilomis : June 30th, 2014-09:12
That she could not care less about the Prince reference. She was/is hooked about the blue dial and the strap. Cheers, Nilo

Congrats Nilo

 
 By: ED209 : June 30th, 2014-21:13
How wonderful that your wife gave you that IWC. Congrats! Regards, ED-209

I like IWC PC.

 
 By: lhk1 : June 30th, 2014-22:06
The dial is clean and beautiful. Regards Ling

It was ...

 
 By: Kong : June 30th, 2014-22:11
gone, the next day! Indeed a nice uncluttered dial. Kong

I love that perpetual

 
 By: Mostel : July 1st, 2014-23:09
But it really is too damn big, I just can't pull it off. But I love it. Too wide, too thick for a perpetual. But I love this version,

This version of the Portuguese Perpetual calendar

 
 By: MTR : July 5th, 2014-14:53
attracts me the most. What a lovely and IMHO timeless piece! The only thing that disturbs me is that IWC installs only one single barrel in a movement with seven days of power reserve... Cordially, Thomas

Would like to hear ...

 
 By: Kong : July 7th, 2014-09:46
from you more, the reason/s or any issue with one barrel. Thanks Thomas. Kong

Accuracy problems

 
 By: MTR : July 7th, 2014-14:19
Dear Kong, I sometimes read / heard about accuracy problems related to the single-barrel architecture combined with a power reserve of 7 days (more noticeable the last days of the power reserve) which were confirmed by one or the other dealer in personal ... 

Not neccessary ...

 
 By: Kong : July 8th, 2014-02:57
Hi Thomas Thanks for your reply. It is not necessary to be the case of a single barrel has accuracy issue. For most watches when the power is dwindled till the end like balance of a day or two, the daily rate will fluctuate as it loses torque and affects ...  

Why?

 
 By: MTR : July 8th, 2014-03:52
Dear Kong, many thanks for your detailed explanations. I also try to operate with a PR > 50%. Do you know why IWC doesn't just integrate a 2nd barrel? Are there any "technical" reasons (barriers) regarding the movement or is it simply a cost issue? I.e... 

I hope ...

 
 By: Kong : July 8th, 2014-06:07
you are not under an impression watches with double barrels are more accurate. It is not likely to be true. I don't know why IWC does not pursue two barrels, but I feel there is no need for it. The 7-day movement is a large movement (nearly filled up the ... 

In new light

 
 By: MTR : July 8th, 2014-11:10
Hi Kong, I must confess I am (or better) was under this impression. But it's not my own experience. Therefore your explanations now open the way for me to look at this special watch in a new light. I will see if I get the chance to try it on my own wrist.... 

I like the perpetual calendar :-)

 
 By: Mr.Gatsby : July 6th, 2014-11:24
Love the subtle red accents on the watch and the overall sleek look!

Should ...

 
 By: Kong : July 8th, 2014-02:59
check it out in the Boutque, and see if you like it, G :-) Kong

Like them all but the carbon ingenieur simple look with green is tempting.

 
 By: Hulk : July 6th, 2014-13:57
Thanks, really great pics. Cheers Steve

Likewise ...

 
 By: Kong : July 7th, 2014-09:55
I find the work on the case really interesting, especially the part which can have two different textures on the same surface. Not sure if it is the same compression process as AP . Thanks for viewing, Steve. Kong