IWC has revealed a nice addition to its splendid Portofino range of oversized timekeepers. Always conservative in its approach, extremely reluctant when it comes to evolving its design language, the Swiss watchmaker again brings us a watch that features all the elements that we love so much with only a small change: the IWC Portofino Hand-Wound Big Date Boutique Edition (Refs. IW516102 / IW516101) has the original simple calendar display replaced with a lot more appealing Big Date indicator.
Swiss Brands
Vulcain Nautical DLC: a Serious Tool for a Desk Diver
The company that makes watches for American presidents, has re-released its classic Nautical model. First released as a faithful recreation of the 1960s diver and then re-issued around two years ago in almost the same shape (but with a different movement), this new Vulcain Nautical DLC (Ref. 100152.024LDLC) version gets more modern look with its mid-sized stainless steel body treated with scratch-resistant DLC coating. Still, it loses something in the process.
F.P. Journe Special 30th Anniversary Tourbillon
Mostly known for its avant-gardist approach to design, this time the Geneva-based brand decided to take a more classical way. Their F.P. Journe Special 30th Anniversary Tourbillon features everything that you might expect from a highly exclusive vintage-styled timekeeper including a solid hunter-style case back cover with meticulously executed barleycorn guilloche.
Reasonable Rarity: the Alpina Heritage Pilot Edition
First revealed before the Baselworld 2012 trade show, the Heritage Pilot resurfaces in an even more appealing version. Although with a total production run of 1883 pieces (just like the older model), the Alpina Heritage Pilot Limited Edition (Ref. AL-435LB4SH6) shouldn’t be touted as a “limited” edition (there will be just too many of them in circulation for the model to become a rarity in any reasonable time), it still deserves our attention for the sheer beauty of it.
Louis Moinet Stardance 36mm Limited Edition
With its dial layout similar to that of their limited edition 2011 “Geograph” (it was issued about three years ago and then reissued almost immediately as Geograph Rainforest limited edition), the Louis Moinet Stardance (ref. LM-32.20DD.80) offers the same layout with two vertically-aligned sub-dials but delivers a different functionality. Instead of a chronograph and a second time-zone display, this beautiful watch is focused on its otherworldly (literally so) moon phase indicator.
Raymond Weil Maestro Automatic 2867-STC-00659
After years of numerous trials and errors, Raymond Weil has finally delivered. Their 2013 Maestro Automatic (Ref. 2867- STC-00659) is offered in an elegant, well-proportioned stainless steel case that makes even the top-tier watchmaking houses want to eat their hearts out.