Today marks the beginning of our adventure at SIHH 2011, the International Salon of Haute Horlogerie in Geneva, during which we will periodically update you with the most interesting novelties from the nineteen exhibiting brands.
IWC opens the dances with the grand re-launch of the Portofino collection. The House of Schaffhausen is speaking Italian this year, even with a surprise dedicated expressly to our country.
The new collection is a tribute to Italian style and savoir-faire. Until now available only in automatic and chronograph versions, from this year the Portofino offers two Haute Horlogerie complications with in-house calibres. These are the Dual Time and 8 Days models, with a double barrel guaranteeing a 192-hour power reserve. On these models, the company has gone one step further, distinguishing the watch with a detail that is absolutely Made in Italy: the fine, antiqued leather strap handcrafted by Santoni.
The surprise for our market, however, is linked to the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy, to which IWC is dedicating a watch in a limited series of 150 pieces: the Ingenieur Vintage Tribute to Italy. There are discreet references to the Italian flag, from the dial (green Superluminova on dauphine hands, red seconds and a milk-white background) to the strap, again handcrafted in Italy from cordoban, the leather traditionally used for horse harnesses.
Prices for the Portofino collection range from €3,550 to €15,700. The Ingenieur Vintage Tribute to Italy, in a limited edition of 150 pieces for the Italian market only, will be on sale for 6,200 euros, in steel.
