The IWC Replica newcomer’s case has been given a sapphire back and its dial boasts lacquered numerals; the standard model has applied numerals. The two watches are very similar in all other aspects, including their dimensions and proportions.
The Replica Portugieser Chronograph has enjoyed strong popularity for many years and is one of IWC’s bestselling models.This hand-wound wristwatch was given a neatly designed dial with a railway-style minutes circle, Arabic numerals and a subdial for the seconds at 6 o’clock. In an era when gents preferred to wear small and elegant wristwatches, the Portugieser must have looked like a gigantic measuring instrument strapped to its wearer’s wrist.
With a diameter of 41 mm, the Copy Watch is nonetheless 1 mm smaller than the Portugieser Automatic. This size was formerly considered to be large, but nowadays 41 mm is a normal size for a wristwatch with a built-in stop-seconds function.
Its satin-finished sides contrast attractively with the polished mushroom-shaped push-pieces and with the polished bezel, which widens upward. But the primary focus of the IWC Portugieser Replica styling is its dial. The bezel is narrow so nothing can distract from the elementary function of displaying the time. Sleek simplicity is the ideal solution here.