Timepieces from the International Watch Company might command around the same price point as Rolex, but their renown in consumer circles is wholly different. Consider IWC the thinking man’s watch brand largely because the choice to buy one is deliberate, as opposed to picking a Rolex, which can be mistakenly done because it’s oftentimes the logical and popular choice for those who have the necessary capital without horological knowledge.
Select a timepiece from IWC and you’re in elite but cult status. Their designs are classic, elegant and timeless (except for the Top Gun or Aquatimer). The Portugieser is one of their most prominent and coveted watches, and for good reason. One look at it and you realize you’ve graduated into another realm of wristwatches, one that’s subtly powerful and understatedly confident. A man who wears an IWC is not only confident in who he is, but he also has nothing to prove in the way of style. He might be a family man but one who has not lost himself in the shadow of responsibility. He’s passionate about comfort and security, typically conservative, he knows what he likes and is comfortable in his own skin. He cares little that his neighbors know nothing about the IWC name and doesn’t care to brag about his accomplishments. You might see him driving a vintage BMW 8-Series or a Saab 9-3 Viggen because he appreciates obscure finery, and his suit of choice is a crisp navy blue Brooks Brothers two-button