THE IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN PORTOFINO AUTOMATIC MOON PHASE 37 YEAR OF THE SNAKE WITH A SERPENT-SHAPED ROTOR
Schaffhausen/Shanghai, 28th August 2024: IWC Schaffhausen celebrates the beginning of the Year of the Snake with a special edition in the Portofino collection. The Portofino Automatic Moon Phase 37 Year of the Snake captivates with its burgundy dial, which harmonises perfectly with the golden moon of its moon phase display. The serpent-shaped oscillating mass is an artfully crafted homage to the sixth animal in the Chinese zodiac. The watch comes with a black and a burgundy calfskin strap and is limited to 500 pieces.
Following a time-honoured tradition, IWC Schaffhausen welcomes the Lunar New Year with a special edition watch. 29th January 2025 marks the beginning of the Year of the Wood Snake – a combination that will occur in the Chinese calendar for the first time since 1965. People born under this zodiac sign are considered wise, clever and courageous. As the snake is associated with wisdom and agility, they are believed to be excellent problem solvers and to possess strong analytical capabilities. They value knowledge and like to pursue profound philosophical questions. However, the snake is also a sign of rebirth and change, representing fertility and strength. Finally, snakes are said to love the finer things in life, and often strive for power and wealth.
“Since 1984, the Portofino from IWC Schaffhausen has embodied classic elegance and timeless beauty. With its charming moon phase display at 12 o’clock, the Portofino Automatic Moon Phase 37 is among the collection’s most coveted pieces. With this new timepiece, we would like to wish everyone a strong start into the year of the snake,” said Peter Lao, Managing Director of IWC Schaffhausen in China.
The Portofino Automatic Moon Phase 37 Year of the Snake (Ref. IW459604) features a stainless steel case with a diameter of 37 millimetres and a burgundy dial. This unique shade of red symbolises the vibrant colour of fire, typically used to welcome the Lunar New Year in China. Situated at 12 o’clock, the moon phase display works so precisely that it only deviates from the actual orbit of Earth’s satellite by one day after 122 years. The golden moon and stars stand out against the burgundy backdrop and harmonise beautifully with the gold-plated hands and appliques.
The watch is powered by the IWC-manufactured 32800 calibre with automatic winding and a power reserve of five days. Another highlight is hidden on the back: the gold oscillating mass is crafted in the shape of a snake, a nod to the Lunar New Year. For added versatility, the Portofino Automatic Moon Phase 37 comes with two straps. One is crafted from black calfskin and one from burgundy calfskin, while both feature a butterfly clasp. A quick-change system enables wearers to change the look of their watch effortlessly.
IWC Schaffhausen is the Engineer of Watchmaking. In 1868, the American watchmaker and engineer Florentine Ariosto Jones established the ‘International Watch Company’ in Schaffhausen in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. By combining the best of human craftsmanship and creativity with cutting-edge industrial technology and processes, he laid the foundation for IWC’s unique engineering approach to watchmaking.
IWC’s distinctive and pure design is brought to life through collections ranging from elegant dress watches to sports and luxury sports watches, notably the Portugieser, Portofino, Pilot’s Watches and Ingenieur. Over its more than 150-year history, IWC has earned a reputation for creating professional instrument watches and functional complications, especially chronographs and calendars, which are ingenious, robust and easy to use.
A pioneer in the use of titanium and ceramic, IWC specializes in performance materials such as Ceratanium®. IWC’s advanced engineering division XPL develops technologies that enhance the durability of mechanical watches and extend their applications to environments with extreme conditions such as jet aviation and human spaceflight.
IWC is a leader in luxury watchmaking, crafting timepieces built to last for generations and continuously improving every aspect of how it manufactures, distributes and services its watches responsibly. Empowering the next generation of engineers, the brand also partners with organizations that work globally to support children and young people. IWC. EngineeredTM.