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wristwatchjournal · 4 years ago

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Introducing – The IWC Portugieser Chronograph 3716, Now on Steel Bracelet (Live Pics & Video Review)

Today is the opening of Watches & Wonders Shanghai, a new watch fair dedicated to the Chinese market. While the main idea for exposing brands is to display the watches introduced in April, some of them have decided to benefit from this physical and digital space to launch some new models. Part of them is IWC, which brings an update to what’s certainly one of its most emblematic models, the Portugieser Chronograph 3716, which comes now for the first time on a stainless steel bracelet. And we have a video review of it too, right on top of this article.

Background

Minimalistic yet easily recognizable, greatly designed and with a nautical sporty-chic vibe, the modern Portugieser finds its roots back in the late 1930s, following the request of two Portuguese merchants who wanted to have the precision of IWC’s deck clocks but to be worn on the wrists while sailing. The result was a large wristwatch, powered by a pocket watch movement, with a distinctive design and a minimalist approach focused on legibility and precision.

The previous generation of the IWC Portugieser Chronograph, the reference 3714

IWC brought back the name Portugieser in 1993, for the 125th anniversary of the brand. And in 1998, IWC launched a model that will soon become a modern icon, the Portugieser Chronograph 3714. The beauty of this watch lied in its visual simplicity and the symmetry of its design. For the coming 22 years, IWC will keep the watch almost intact, reinforcing its cult status.

The evolution towards the ref. 3716

Earlier this year, IWC has introduced a new version of its emblematic watch, the Portugieser Chronograph, under the reference 3716. IWC is well aware of the commercial success and timeless appeal of this watch and any drastic update could have come at risk. Yet, IWC took the right decision to maintain most of the design element intact and mostly updated what matters, the movement. Indeed, what was somehow seen by some watch enthusiasts in the past model, the out-sourced calibre, has now been replaced by an in-house movement. Other than that, the Portugieser Chronograph is still the watch we’ve loved more than 2 decades.

The evolutions are subtle, to say the least. The stainless steel case of the IWC Portugieser Chronograph 3716 now measures 41mm in diameter (just 0.1mm more than before) and is just a bit thicker (0.3mm more, due to the new movement). This meant reshaping some parts, such as the lugs, but only in minor proportions. All the classic elements, such as the ultra-thin bezel that widely opens on the dial, the brushed and polished surfaces or the oversized pushers, have been maintained.

The dial evolves, once again, only on almost imperceptible details. The surface is still silver-plated with a galvanic treatment, offering nice metallic reflections. The 3716 still has its beautiful symmetrical dial with elegant applied Arabic numerals and thin leaf-shaped hands, here coloured in blue – perfectly in line with the sporty-nautical theme of the Portugieser. The ultra-clean display, with sub-counters at 12 and 6 o’clock, is retained and great visual pleasure. The only noticeable difference is the “IWC Schaffhausen” logo, with a more modern font and a slightly smaller size. And thankfully, no date window has been added.

What really differentiates the older 3714 from the new 3716 is the movement. In the past, the IWC Portugieser Chronograph used to have a deeply-modified Valjoux movement. But in 2020, with a name such as IWC, having a movement internally produced has become somehow a must. For this reason, the 3716 is fitted with the automatic calibre 69355, part of the 69xxx family of movements (focused on replacing Valjoux ébauches) that we’ve explored in detail here. This integrated chronograph with column-wheel, which can be seen through the transparent caseback, offers 46 hours of power reserve and runs at 4Hz.

Today, the main novelty comes the introduction of a stainless steel bracelet on the IWC Portugieser Chronograph, a first for this model, which has always been offered on alligator leather. The new bracelet features h-shaped brushed links and polished centre links. It is closed by a concealed butterfly folding clasp. It adds a sportier, fresher look to this elegant chronograph and will be a great option for those living in warmer countries or who want a more robust watch.

Note that this steel bracelet is also available as an accessory, and it will fit all steel models in the Portugieser Chronograph 3716 collection. However, it won’t be possible to install it on the older reference 3714, as the lugs are slightly different.

The IWC Portugieser Chronograph 3716 on stainless steel bracelet will soon be available at boutiques and retailers, for a price of CHF 9,200. More details at iwc.com.

The post Introducing – The IWC Portugieser Chronograph 3716, Now on Steel Bracelet (Live Pics & Video Review) appeared first on Wristwatch Journal.

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watchilove · 5 years ago

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Frederique Constant unveiled at the beginning of this autumn its first Yacht Timer GMT collection. As Official Timekeeper of the Cannes Yachting Festival, the brand announced the comeback of the Yacht Timer Regatta Countdown. Check below the official press release and the images gallery.

Frederique Constant Yacht Timer GMT

One of the most legendary complications in watchmaking is making a comeback in the sporty-chic collection by Frederique Constant. The manufacture is unveiling the Yacht Timer GMT today, a new model with two versions that are unmistakably nautical in nature.

Frederique Constant Yacht Timer GMT

The GMT gets a new lease on life

The GMT function can display a second-time zone. It’s a crucial feature for any world traveller. The GMT had previously only been offered in the Classics collection, designed for professionals on the go who wanted to see the local time and the time at home base when changing planes or continents.

Today, the GMT joins the Yacht Timer collection. By adding two new models to this sleek nautical line, Frederique Constant enters the world of long-distance yachtsmen, lovers of sailing and the beach, or anyone attracted to nautical design.

Frederique Constant Yacht Timer GMT

Simple and intuitive

Both timepieces feature the same tasteful sporty-chic style with a modern 42mm diameter, clean lines and rose gold finish. The GMT on the functional and highly legible Yacht Timer is displayed on a central hand. The time at the home base can be instantly read on the inner ring marked with a 24-hour clock. This intuitive GMT has a red tip so it can easily be distinguished from the other hands. There is no need for a day-night indicator since the dark half of the GMT’s ring marks night from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM and the light side indicates day for the other 12 hours. There is a window at 3 o’clock showing the date paired with the local time on the central hands.

Two variations of one complication

There are already two models to choose from. One features a rose gold-plated case, indexes and hands on a white grained dial. All the hands are coated with Super-LumiNova to ensure they are clearly visible, even at night. The FC-350 movement provides a 38-hour power reserve. The Yacht Timer GMT is no match for saltwater spray and is waterproof to 100 meters. This version comes with a brown alligator strap.

The strap on the other variation is in bicolour steel and rose gold-plated steel. It has the same glowing hands, also finished in rose gold, that hover over a dial with a grained anthracite background. Both models also come with an extra rubber strap to make the Yacht Timer GMT watches equally suitable for the most extreme physical activities.

Frederique Constant Yacht Timer GMT

Heirs to a manufacture legacy

With the Yacht Timer GMT, Frederique Constant has topped up its Classics line with a sleek nautical collection that ensures continuity for the manufacture’s cherished Swiss Made elegance. What is more, the watchmaker had offered up its own version of the GMT, a prestigious complication for which in 2011 it created an in-house version: the seventh manufacture calibre called the FC-938. The Yacht Timer GMT carries on this pursuit and marks another milestone in this modern-day complication’s history — a call to the open sea, and an urge to travel and seek new horizons.