Portuguese Minute Repeater Red Gold

In Context

At 44 mm it is a large watch — well above this catalogue’s 40 mm median, and enough to dominate a narrow wrist. At 14 mm it is a tall case, and it will catch on a cuff. The case back is open, so the movement is visible without taking the watch apart, and the sapphire crystal will resist everything short of deliberate abuse.

The movement is hand-wound, so winding it becomes part of the day rather than something the watch does for you. 43 hours of reserve carries it overnight, but not through a weekend in a drawer. At 18,000 vph the seconds hand advances 5 times a second, the slower and more audible rate of an older design.

IW5449-05 is one of 4 executions of the IW5449 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a silver dial and a red gold case. It was a limited edition. Introduced in 2010. Beyond the time it carries a minute repeater.

The 98950 is part of the 9800 family of hand-wound movements, and features stylistic elements from the early F. A. Jones calibres.

3 other watches in the library run the IWC 98950.

IWC

Portuguese Minute Repeater Platinum

IW5449-01 · 44 mm

IWC

Portuguese Minute Repeater Red Gold

IW5449-07 · 44 mm

IWC

Portuguese Minute Repeater Platinum

IW5449-06 · 44 mm