Iwc Porugieser Laureus Review

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I thought I repost this older review in the new IWC area and have added some updates in red

Review: IWC Portugieser Laureus Special Edition

Supplier: River

Price: US$249

Shipping: Free.

Date ordered: Sep. 01, 2006

Date delivered: Sep. 05, 2006, actually it would have been the 4th but USPS didn't deliver labor day

:* OVERALL RATING

:Shipping time

:Pre-sales

:After-sales

:Price/quality ratio

:Resemblance to genuine

* These ratings reflect my own judgement and do not represent any authority whatsoever.

Replica Portugieser Chrono-Automatic Edition Laureus Sport for Good Foundation from River

for more pictures follow the link at the end of this review

Manufacturer: International Watch Co. Schaffhausen

Model Name: 'Portugieser Chrono-Automatic Edition Laureus Sport for Good Foundation '

Gender: Gents

Case Metal: Stainless Steel

Weight: Genuine=80g, Replica=82.2g including Strap

Case Diameter: Genuine=40.9mm, Replica= a little over 40mm - don't have a caliper

Case Thickness: Genuine=12.3mm, Replica= around 11-12mm - don't have a caliper

Case Back: solid with special engraving

Glass: Genuine=antireflective convex sapphire - Replica=convex sapphire

Movement: Mechanical chronograph movement, Self-winding, Small seconds with stop function

Caliber Original: 79350, 28 800bph, 31 Jewels, 44h Power reserve, Automatic based on Valjoux/ETA 7750

Caliber Replica: Asia7750, 28 800bph, number of jewels unknown, power reserve unknown, based on Valjoux/ETA 7750

Dial: galvanized with embossed Arabic numerals, subdials with concentric rings

Bracelet/Strap: dark blue crocodile leather strap with IWC logo buckle

List price (genuine): $7.100 USD

About International Watch Company - IWC

Unmistakeable originals of chronometry are the undisputed specialty of the IWC Schaffhausen watch factory in Schaffhausen, in north-east Switzerland: the famous "Da Vinci", with its perpetual calendar, is one such. These naturally included the first "Grande Complication" for the wrist, but also the super-antimagnetic "Ingenieur" and the diver's watches, which are capable of withstanding water pressure even down to a depth of 2000 metres - and the only diver's watches with a mechanical depth gauge. From IWC come the professional "Pilot's watches". Equally unsurpassed are the exquisite pocket watches, which have been built at IWC since the year of its foundation in 1868.

It was no accident that an American engineer from Boston, Florentine Ariosto Jones, established the "International Watch Co." in Schaffhausen of all places in the year 1868. The factory on the Rhine - situated far from the watchmaking centres of West Switzerland - is indebted to this American for its name and its existence. There he found a newly constructed hydroelectric power station for his machines. Ideal conditions for his passion to build perfect mechanical movements for an international market. He also found watchmakers whose profession already had a long tradition in Schaffhausen. The State Archives in Schaffhausen include an entry dated 29 January 1583 relating to the Guild of Pyrotechnicians, Gunsmiths, Watchmakers and Hoistmakers to the City Council. This proves that the watchmaker's trade must already have existed in Schaffhausen at the time. In fact, the beginnings of the Schaffhausen watchmakers' art can be traced even further, as far back as the year 1409, when a monk from theneighbouring monastery in Rheinau built the striking clock of St. Johann's church.

Originals of chronometry appeared soon after the company was established, for example in 1885 the Pallweber system pocket watch with its digital display, today a sought-after collector's item. At the end of the 19th century, IWC was one of the first watch manufacturers to recognize the potential of the new and increasingly fashionable wristwatch, for which it developed entirely new movements. It also continued to build original pocket watch movements into wristwatches when the market in the thirties demanded large, extremely accurate wristwatches. This is how the Portuguese line came into being - a trendsetting wristwatch in a "king-sized" format until today.

IWC was involved when watches had to learn to fly with the pioneers of aviation and today offers a comprehensive range of professional pilot's watches, which are fitted with special protection against magnetic fields. And in the fifties the company not only led the competition in the race to introduce the first automatic movements, but also developed, in the so-called Pellaton winding mechanism, an unsurpassed winding system that it still uses exclusively today in its large automatic factory movements.

The special position of IWC is rooted not only in history, but also in geography. It remains the only watch factory in East Switzerland to this day. It is precisely for this reason that the factory regards the need to ensure a qualified succession in the manufacture of mechanical watches as both a commitment and a passion. Apprentice training leading to the Federal Final Diploma as Horloger complet has been the performance standard at IWC since 1950. This led us to set up our own training centre in 1968 with capacity for 15 Apprentices and two advanced training places. New training legislation came into effect in 2001, which offers budding watchmakers more flexible opportunities.

In the severe turbulence in the Swiss watch industry at the end of the seventies under its inspired manager, Günter Blümlein, this is the period in Schaffhausen when the points were set - contrary to the electronic spirit of the time - to take the company onto the track of mechanical watches, innovation and technically exacting men's watches. And from this conception of ourselves there grew the eye-catching advertising message: "IWC. Since 1868. And for as long as there are men." Because men's watches have also been a subject of interest to women for a long time. The craft perfection, the training of its specialists, the renunciation of mass-market products: all of these are in keeping with the old-established principle of IWC. To make watches for small numbers of people, but watches of the highest quality. That is also the reason why, if carefully maintained, our watches last for decades. And why today they are rare items, which fetch collector's prices throughout the world.

Leading impulses for the mechanical watch come from IWC. With its 390 employees, the company manufactures these sought-after pieces. Since the year 2000 IWC has belonged to the watch division of Richemont SA.

History Details/Milestones

About the Portugieser Chrono-Automatic Edition Laureus Sport for Good Foundation

The feature that immediately stands out on the new Portuguese Chrono-Automatic Edition Laureus Sport for Good Foundation is the elegant dial, which is galvanized to give it the blue colour. With its embossed Arabic numerals and swallow-style hands, the watch is immediately recognizable as a Portuguese Chronograph. This model, which is available in a special limited edition of 2000, comes with an alligator leather strap in the same deep shade of dark blue and harmonizes perfectly with the dial. But the unusual thing about this – apart from the engraving on the back, inspired by a child’s drawing – is the fact that for each watch sold, IWC will make a donation to the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. So apart from taking pleasure in the acquisition of a particularly beautiful and elegant timepiece, buyers can also be proud of making a purchase that does someone else good.

REPLICA VS. ORIGINAL

PROS:

This watch is very true to the original; dimensions and details have been copied in an excellent manner. All of the functions of the original are also present on the Replica. The dial and sub-dials and the hands are almost perfectly identical, however the color of the dial is the most difficult to judge but it apperas that the shade of blue on the original is slightly more navy blue rather than royal blue on the replica. So far the performance of the new Asia 7750 has been flawless; hands reset properly, the seconds move very smoothly and it is keeping time close to COSC specifications. I am very happy with the watch, in particular considering its $249 price tag - Update January 2007: after having the watch in for service with The Zigmeister it became clear that the movement modification to have the running seconds at 6 is causing the same problems than on the Daytonas - the second subdial hand is non operational now but the watch still keeps perfect time.

CONS:

There is a couple of minor flaws, starting with the Roman numerals that are applied rather than embossed; the orignial version numerals look like they would rise from the dial, sorry I can't explain this any better.

The before mentioned dial color - difficult to judge how big the difference in the blue shadong is unless you have the original and replica side by side

Judging from the pictures it also appears that the crown is slightly smaller on the replica, the pusher however seem to be as raised and as big on the orginal

The crystal does not have antirefelctive coating/properties

Compared to the replica:

this picture shows how the color is slightly different - I didn't do a good job with the reflections on the replica, but I am sure you get the idea

The back - spot on!

Overall conclusion:

If you are looking for an almost perfect IWC Portugieser Chrono, than don't look any further! River delivers a great product and his service is simply outstanding.

Fast and reliable shipping and excellent service combined with a high quality product would have almost earned River an overall 5 star rating, but since I am such a sucker for details and considering the minor flaws I had to give a 4.5 star. I am sure that unless you expect the original you would be very happy with this watch - for $6851 less than the original which translates into 27.5 additional replicas ;-)

Photo Gallery

End of IWC Portugieser Chrono-Automatic Edition Laureus Sport for Good Foundation Review

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