IWC – Portuguaise

The moon was useful to sailors on the open sea not only for navigational purposes. Its influence on coastal tides has always been of greater importance, because the timing of their ebb and flow is reliably dictated by the moon: at new and full moon, high tides are exceptionally high and low tides exceptionally low. In the English Channel the difference can be up to 11.5 metres and in the Gulf of Maine as much as 21 metres, which illustrates the enormous importance of the moon for shipping. Aside from the date, day, month and year in four digits, the Portuguese Perpetual Calendar also indicates the number of days remaining until the next full moon. The display showing its course and featuring mirror images of the moon in the northern and southern hemispheres deviates from the moon’s actual progress by just 12 seconds in one lunar period. The striking colour combination found in the new version in white gold will increase its attractiveness to watch lovers and stargazers: the rhodium-plated moon-phase indicator discs wax and wane thanks to a midnight blue cut-out display in a dial also finished in midnight blue. In the model with the red gold case, the warm tone provides a pleasing contrast to the black dial.