IWC Schaffhausen Portuguese Minute Repeater Squelette in Platinum Ref. IW524104

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The iconic Portuguese Minute Repeater watch by IWC Schaffhausen, with its ability to make the time audible with great accuracy, is already a true horological work of art in its own right.

The tones of the IWC Portuguese Minute Repeater watch are produced in a dark place. It is not normally accessible, even to an inquisitive eye. For this complicated mechanism, assembled from 250 individual parts, operates in seclusion beneath the dial for the pure pleasure of its wearer, for whom it transforms the time into tones with great accuracy in response to a simple movement of the slide.

The IWC Portuguese Minute Repeater Squelette watch combines acoustic with visual delight: It makes the most spectacular mechanism in the field of the grandes complications visible and readily appreciated.

IWC Portuguese Minute Repeater Squelette in Platinum Ref. IW524104
IWC Portuguese Minute Repeater Squelette in Platinum Ref. IW524104

Admittedly, the Portuguese Minute Repeater made a positive contribution to this project in the sense that, with its case diameter of 42 mm, it approaches the size of a pocket watch. So there really is something to see. Moreover, the complete repeating mechanism is accommodated directly under the dial, and it is not hidden from view by a calendar module of any kind. The critical conceptual step was thus to configure the technical universe of the minute repeater as an animated dial, which is scarcely disturbed by the presence of the two slender hands.

To achieve total transparency, the dial itself was pared down to a narrow graduated ring at the edge of the case, and the repeating mechanism exposed as much as possible. The bridges with their jewel bearings were reduced to a minimal, functionally necessary supporting structure. This skeletonization, which continues as far as the underlying 95911calibre pocket watch movement, is not envisaged as artistic decoration.

Rather the aesthetics of precision and complex mechanics are showcased in a previously unseen fashion behind the two coated sapphire glasses on the front and rear.

The Portuguese Minute Repeater Squelette watch in platinum (reference IW524104) is limited to 25 pieces.

This timepiece is also available in limited editions of 50 watches each in white gold (IW524101), rose gold (IW524102) and yellow gold (IW524103).

Technical details

Model: IWC Portuguese Minute Repeater Squelette in Platinum, Ref. IW524104

Movement
Calibre 95911
Skeletonized mechanical movement, minute repeater, small seconds with stop function, Breguet balance spring
Vibrations : 18,000/h / 2.5 Hz
Jewels : 54
Power reserve : 43 h
Winding : Hand-wound

Case
Material: Platinum
Glass: Sapphire, convex, antireflective coating
Diameter: 42 mm
Height: 12.3 mm

Edition
Limited to 25 pieces

Other versions
Ref. IW524101: White gold version, limited to 50 pieces
Ref. IW524102: Red Gold version, limited to 50 pieces
Ref. IW524103: Yellow Gold version, limited to 50 pieces