IWC Catalogue 2011/12 - Confused between IW502121, IW502303 and IW503203

Dear fellow forum members,

I picked up the new IWC catalogue 2011/12 at the IWC Boutique in Hong Kong International Airport this afternoon on my way back to Singapore. I flipped through the catalogue and was confused by the IW5021 Portuguese Perpetual Calendar.

In 2010, the blue dialed Portuguese perpetual calendar was referenced as IW502121.

From what I have seen in the latest catalogue, it is referenced as IW503203 as seen below:

From the IWC website, it's referenced as IW502103.

Could someone please enlighten collectors/buyers about the right reference number and also any possible changes which might have resulted in the change in reference number from 5021 to the new reference number?

Also I have seen the actual pieces of IW502303 Portuguese perpetual calendar(white gold) in Ardoise dial with a 44.2mm case and the IW502301 (platinum version) with the local ADs here. However, the latest catalogue shows IW502307(white gold) and IW502305(platinum) respectively.

I am highly confused....

Thank you.
Best Regards,
KS Low
Singapore

P.S. I approached the staff at the airport and pointed out the discrepancies to Ms Jasmine Pang who was attending to me and she told me she wasn't informed of any changes/errors from IWC. She insisted this(IW5032) is a new piece in 2011 and I am dead sure it wasn't unless there has been possible modifications to the case which could not be visible to any naked eye looking at the photo.

No need to be confused - it's simply a "typo". Based on previous write-ups, articles, and press releases from SIHH - the white gold, blue dialed Portuguese with dual hemisphere moon is IW502103.

The Portuguese Perpetual Calendar II, with "bussom moon phase" in white gold/ardoise is IW502303.

The reference numbers are correct on this website - see the "Collection" link at top of your screen and navigate to Portuguese.

...one more comment: the 502103 in white gold and the 5023s were introduced in 2010 - not 2011. So, you were correct with that - I don't think anyone was trying to trick you.

yo buddy, have a good trip back and it was a great get-together. I am pretty sure that's a typo ala HK-English standards (don't flame me, its the truth come on!) - although IWC on facebook has made a similar (rather unnerving) error:

darn it ! it was that bad ?? lol. oh well, we're all human afterall.

So the new catalog is out? great!

I will be flying out from Hong Kong on Monday. I know where I should go and pick up some leisure reading for the trip... :-)

There have indeed been slight modifications to the case, the details of which I don't recall at the moment (I think lower profile, as well as a re-shaping of the lugs). So the watch as shown in the 2011 catalog is new in a way.

so there IS a 503203 ? that came out in 2011 or 2010 ?

lol. oh well, I am sure this confusion will sort itself out.

not to mention the 5021, -22 discontinued, & -23 already does confuse many people (sales staff too) that I have met. I suppose the new catalog will sort this out, but I doubt we will be able to try, let alone purchase, the new one in the months to come.

hmmm. what have we here ? is this in the same varietal we are discussing?
found these pics.

something big ... is headed our way 1 Jun 2011.

i suspect the website / new releases will allow be announced next week. 5021 series has been removed from the website.

I cannot find any information on the platinum piece (502301 or 502305) on IWC website. Can anyone help? Thank you.

boutique exclusive unfortunately - which means they are not shown on the website, nor in the regular 11/12 catalog.

if u visit an IWC boutique they should be able to show u the piece, or at the very least tell u more about it. 502301: this particular one is a limited 250 pieces.

if u visit a good authorized dealer, they can tell u more also - provided they have their own internal stock catalog. if they refer to the regular catalog, then they know pretty much as anyone else only.

pics can be found here of your 502301 courtesy of KS LOW.

Another shot...

Hi Shing

The watch you show is the Dubail limited edition. I seen it at the place vendome in March earlier this year. It is splendid and tempting of course but I believe released already in 2010.

www.lacotedesmontres.com/actu/Shooting-de-la-montre-IWC-Portugaise-Quantieme-Perpetuel-Dubail-Edition-Limitee-No_8325.htm

I bought a IW502303 recently, but also notice that there is another one IW502307 exactly the same( from my view ), so I sent a message to IWC Service and got responb back that IW502303 was launched in 2010, but was replaced by IW502307 launched in 2011. Does anyone know what trigger this short life cycle term for IW502303 in a year? what's the difference between IW502303 and IW502307?(IWC Service didnt answer this question). I dont believe " it just a typo" on reference number... I sent to IWC service again, but get no respond yet, does anyone know? Appreciate your sharing.

Does that watch actually exist? If so, where on earth can I find it? Thank you.

Does that watch actually exist? If so, where on earth can I find it? Thank you.