There are 750 of these watches floating around globally, in safes or on wrists of collectors. Its not a small number yet, so few of these watches are ever seen in the after market.
Any guess what is the mathematical probability of the chance of two absolutely minty pieces available and sold in Singapore in a span of 5 days - to a pair of collector friends? Well it happened this week.
While the Portuguese 2000 is not the grail watch to watch collectors, it remains highly desirable to Portuguese collectors for its overall presence. While it has not enjoyed the same level of fame as the Portuguese Jubilee, Its technical significance cannot be challenged. Being the most important new calibre of the new millennium for IWC - developed in conjunction with several top watchmakers led by the genius of Gunther Blumlien.
It may be Portuguese in name but its very German in nature.
If one just looks at the watch clinically by itself on a table or even side by side with other watches including the current Portuguese Auto, the watch somehow does not have the dynamic qualities for a timeless classic.
Yet when its on the wrist, somehow something happens. It exudes something inexplicable. The austere dial, balance of the two sub dials, the pale cream dial work with gold arabic markers and wonderfully huge hands - together with its curved hexalite crystal - all comes to life by just being on the wrist.
I believe its the design symmetry and balance together with beautiful combination of rose gold case with a pale off white dial and particularly the recognisable arabic markers and sword hands that makes this watch sing.
(Picture here of my friend Eddie Sng with his new Portuguese 2000 RG)
Just appreciate the presence of this watch on the wrist -
Yet on the table, somehow the watch looks ordinary - doesn't it?
