I discovered the IWC Portugieser Yacht Club and now I want even more watches.

The Portugieser is IWC's signature collection. The Portugieser Yacht Club in particular has given the collection practical sporting performance, brightening up the wrists of those who wear it on the beach or on the deck. In this article, we will explain the history of how the Yacht Club was integrated into the Portugieser, introduce the current models, and convey the appeal of this collection. The more you learn about the appeal of the Portugieser Yacht Club, the more your desire to own one will be stimulated.

IWC and the Yacht Club

The Portugieser is IWC's signature collection. Its large yet elegant case is equipped with a wide variety of designs and mechanisms. The Yacht Club, on the other hand, was originally a separate model from the Portugieser. Let's take a look at the history of how the sporty Yacht Club was eventually integrated into the Portugieser.

IWC's flagship collection

The first Portugieser was produced in 1939. It was created in response to a request from a Portuguese merchant as a large wristwatch with the precision and legibility of a marine chronometer.

The first Portugieser used a large pocket watch movement to improve accuracy, and this big face remains a characteristic of the Portugieser to this day.

It was revived in 1993 as a limited edition model, and in 1995, a model equipped with a minute repeater (Ref. 5250) and a model equipped with a split-seconds hand (rattrapante mechanism) (Ref. 3712) were released, quickly growing into a flagship collection.

Large round cases are easy to fit with complex mechanisms, and a wide variety of complications have been released to date.

Gerald Genta's Yacht Club

The Yacht Club was first produced in 1967. It was a sportier model than the professional-oriented "Ingenieur," and was designed by Gérald Genta, who would later go on to create the "Ingenieur SL."

Genta is a legendary designer who created many masterpieces that shine brightly in the history of watches, such as Audemars Piguet's Royal Oak and Patek Philippe's Nautilus.

The Yacht Club, one of the most successful models of the 20th century, was integrated into the Portugieser collection in 2010 as the Portugieser Yacht Club Chronograph (Ref. 3902).

History and Characteristics of the Yacht Club

The Yacht Club began as an independent collection and was later integrated into the Portugieser collection.

Let's take a look at the journey from the original 1967 model to the Portugieser Yacht Club Chronograph.

Early model equipped with double earthquake-resistant devices

The Yacht Club's first model, the Ref. 1811, which appeared in 1967, was equipped with the Cal. 8541 movement, which absorbed shocks with a double shock-resistant device.

The elegant oval case incorporates cutting-edge technology of the time, including high robustness, water resistance to 10 bar, and excellent winding efficiency thanks to the Pellaton automatic winding mechanism.

The octagonal bezel is popular among collectors

The Yacht Club II, which was released in 1977, is a model that featured an octagonal bezel, which was Genta's preference.

The bezel is reminiscent of the Royal Oak and Nautilus, but the screws are not exposed, and the slope that flows from the circular top to the side of the case creates an elegant three-dimensional effect. The bracelet that smoothly connects to the curved lugs is also a design that is typical of Genta.

Most of the Yacht Club IIs sold are quartz movements, and models equipped with the in-house automatic movement Cal. 8541 or the Cal. 3254, which is based on the Jaeger-LeCoultre Cal. 889, are particularly popular among watch enthusiasts.

The movement installed in the current model has a flyback function

The Portugieser Yacht Club Chronograph, which has been on sale since 2010, is a high-performance chronograph equipped with the in-house movement Cal. 89000 series and a flyback function.

The Caliber 89360, released in 2007, and the Caliber 89361 used in current models feature a special design with a 12-hour counter and a 60-minute counter coaxially positioned at the 12 o'clock position, achieving multi-functionality without compromising the elegant style.

Current model of the Portuguese Yacht Club

The Yacht Club is based on the design codes of the Portugieser, but it also boasts sporty performance and complex mechanisms not seen in previous Portugiesers. Let us introduce the current Portugieser Yacht Club.

A completely new look for leather straps: the Portugieser Yacht Club Chronograph

The Portugieser Yacht Club Chronograph Ref. IW390702 is a model that features a stainless steel bracelet, overturning the image of the elegant Portugieser worn on a leather strap.

The metal construction improves corrosion resistance at sea and provides more practical sporting performance. The dial features a refreshing blue and white color scheme, while the minute track and applied indexes are reminiscent of the Portugieser.

The variation IW390701 features a blue dial typical of IWC, while the IW390703 features 18K red gold throughout, and both are masterpieces that exude a resort feel.

Predict high and low tide times: "Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide"

The Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide Ref. IW344001 is a one-of-a-kind complication that displays the tides and double moon phases for both the northern and southern hemispheres.

The subdial at 6 o'clock displays the predicted times of high and low tide, and the double moon phase at 12 o'clock also has the function of showing spring and neap tides.

The combination of the luminous blue dial and the 18K red gold indexes creates a beautiful design befitting a marine watch. The watch is water resistant to 6 ATM and comes with a blue rubber strap, making it a flawless resort model.

I want a Portuguese Yacht Club!

The Portugieser is known for its open and elegant design, but the Portugieser Yacht Club Chronograph and Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide in particular bring new value to resort models.

Whether worn on a metal bracelet for business or on the endless ocean, the Yacht Club will brighten up each wearer's voyage. And just thinking about these situations will make you want to own this watch.