Unveiling the Legacy of the Portugieser Collection: IWC's Timeless Masterpiece from Schaffhausen

The history of IWC Schaffhausen’s beloved Portugieser Collection is fascinating, beginning in the late 1930s at the prompting of two Portuguese wholesalers. The pair approached IWC with a novel concept - create a wristwatch offering the precision of a marine chronometer. This birthed Reference 325, the foundation of the Portugieser series, but its earliest history is filled with intriguing twists.

Initially, the watch was catalogued by IWC under its case designation, Mod. 228. The 325 reference number only emerged later as the model became more recognised. Contrary to beliefs, the first delivery was not made to Portugal, but to a Ukrainian wholesaler, L. Schwarcz, in Odessa. Shortly afterward, more units were delivered to Lviv, now part of Ukraine.

Amidst the turbulence of World War II, distribution was focused on Eastern Europe, particularly to Bratislava. IWC Schaffhausen’s Portugieser Collection remains emblematic of timeless class and superior precision - an icon that continues to dazzle horology enthusiasts across the globe.