IWC Portuguese Perpetual Calendar

The new Portuguese Perpetual Calendar is a great watch. Its greatness lies in what it represents and how the watch has evolved as a perfect synthesis.

This in turn raises perhaps the fundamental question about all mechanical watches: what makes a great watch? There may be no one answer to such a rarely asked question. One could claim, however, that a great watch must be more than a beautiful design –although the Portuguese Perpetual Calendar is striking in looks. One could claim that a great watch is more than one that is well-executed in mechanics –although the movement of this watch is both creative and well-engineered.

There is even more here than a sound mind in a sound body. A beautiful appearance which houses a fine movement produces high craft, but not necessarily greatness. Here, in the Portuguese Perpetual Calendar, the watch represents something more than itself. It makes a statement. The watch is a symbol of tradition and innovation. IWC often incorporates its heritage within its new products, in a way and with a thought process unequaled within the Swiss watch industry. But this particular watch stands above them all because of what it represents.

The 19th century German philosopher Hegel conceived of the dialectic as a way of understanding reality. This was a process that began with a thesis, followed by its opposite –an antithesis, and finally culminating in a synthesis. If there ever were a watch that reflects this philosophy, it is the new Portuguese Perpetual Calendar. This watch may be the ultimate synthesis of watchmaking in Schaffhausen in a single watch.