Portugieser automatic advice

I am very interested in buying a Portugieser automatic and wanted to ask for
some advice on this watch, from those who know more about it than I do.

I was recently on holiday in the capital city of a European country, and saw
an IWC store, which I went into. The salesman was very polite and friendly,
but English wasn't his first language and it was a bit of a struggle to
communicate. I asked him about the 7 day power reserve, and he seemed to
suggest that if the watch is just left without being worn, the power reserve
is really only 4 days in practice. However, it may be that was lost in
translation. I therefore wondered whether this was true? If the watch is fully
wound, and the power reserve showed 7 days, would it actually last 7 days
without being worn, or is he right that it would only last 4 days?

I also wanted to ask him about the accuracy of the watch, but I struggled to
get an answer to this. I appreciate that this is a mechanical watch, but I
just wondered what IWC say are the general figures for this particular
movement in terms of accuracy? For those that own it, I also wondered what
owners' experiences were of this in practice? Does the accuracy change as the
power reserve diminished?

They had the watch I am particularly interested in (500704); it is a stunning
watch and I am keen to get one at some stage over the next 6 months, but
having visited the store I am more unsure than I was when I walked in!

All advice/experiences with the watch gratefully received.

Best wishes for a Happy Christmas,

FR

I have to say
I think there is something "lost in translation" with your experience st the
non English speaking Boutique.

Set your mind at ease and visit an English Speaking Boutique and your
experience will be exceptional. The 5007 series is a magnificent range of
watches. Both beautiful and accurate. The power reserve is 7 days and will be
accurate until the last day, marked in red, after which there is a clutch that
will stop the Watch automatically- to ensure accuracy. There is actually 1 day
left in reserve.

My 5001.07 The previous model to 5007 and one of my favourite and best watches

I guess the information about the 4 days power reserve was a translation
issue. Of course there is a full 7 days power reserve if the watch is fully
wound. In fact, the power reserve could even be 8 days but the watch stops
after 7 days because it is loosing accuracy in the last day.

In general, all watches from IWC are regulated to 0/+7 seconds per day. I
currently own 6 watches (including a Portugieser Automatic) and all of them
run within these specifications. Some are closer and some are just on the
border. But it also depends on how you store your watch at night. If you put
in on the crown the watch will run slower than if you put it dial up.

The accuracy is best if your watch is fully wound. If your power reserve runs
down, the amplitude is decreasing slightly and therefore the daily rate is
increasing, i.e. your watch will run faster. For a watch with 7 days power
reserve, this increase in daily rate starts at about 4 - 5 days. So my
suggestion for the Portugieser Automatic is to keep the power reserve in the
upper half if you want your watch as precise as possible.

My experience with my Portugieser Automatic: It is one of the most accurate
watches I own and runs at about +2 s/d. As my watch is Ref. 5001 it contains
the movement 51XXX and not the latest version 52XXX. Yours will have the newer
and even better (in terms of accuracy) movement.

Go for it! You will certainly enjoy this beautiful masterpiece!

Dear Mark and Lyles,

Thank you very much for taking the time to respond so fully and helpfully to
my post; I am greatly re-assured by what you have writen and really appreicate
the detailed information that you have given me.

Thanks again and I wish you both a happy Christmas!

Best wishes,

FR.

The Portuguese Automatic is an awesome watch and I still miss mine. I had the
white dial blue hand version and it's stunning. As for accuracy, mine was
running a bit faster than the 0 to 7 seconds/day at about 10 seconds a day but
it didn't bother me.

Here is just an older picture just for fun.

You can't go wrong with any of the dial and hand color combinations so choose
the one you like and enjoy the watch.

Kind regards,

Clemens