Some luxury watch brands have made it a nice tradition to commemorate the Chinese New Year with special editions incorporating design elements and symbols associated with the Chinese zodiac sign of the year. IWC Schaffhausen is no exception to this, and to celebrate the beginning of the Year of the Dragon— starting on February 10 2024— the Swiss manufacture once again releases a special edition, this time of the Portugieser Chronograph.
Limited to 1,000 pieces, the notably classic and elegant IWC Portugieser Chronograph Year of the Dragon has its entrance in a 41mm stainless steel case and impresses with a burgundy dial with contrasting gold-plated hands and appliques. Burgundy is a charming shade of red, symbolizing the vibrant color of fire, which is traditionally used to welcome the Lunar New Year in China and promises longevity and luck. It provides a beautiful backdrop for the signature Arabic numerals and two-counter layout with stop minutes at 12 o’clock and running seconds at 6 o’clock of this popular IWC classic.
The Portugieser Chronograph Year of the Dragon is powered by the IWC-manufactured 69355 caliber, a robust and precise mechanical chronograph movement in a classic column-wheel design that boast a power reserve of 46 hours. A glance at the movement through the transparent sapphire case back reveals the topic of the watch: the gold-plated rotor of the automatic winding system takes the form of a beautifully detailed dragon. In addition, the case back ring features an engraving of “2024 YEAR OF THE DRAGON.”
The Portugieser Chronograph Year of the Dragon is delivered with two straps: one black calfskin strap and one burgundy rubber strap, allowing the wearer to choose between two different looks. Both are equipped with a butterfly clasp.
Pricing is marked at $9,350.
To learn more, visit IWC Schaffhausen, here.
