The Collection of a European Nobleman
Geneva, May 11, 2008
LOT 38
Portugieser Automatic 2000 IWC (International Watch Co.), Schaffhausen, "Portugieser Automatic 2000", No. 213/250, case No. 2792398. Made in a limited edition of 250 pieces in platinum in 2000, to celebrate the new millennium. Very fine, large, self-winding, platinum wristwatch with 7-day power reserve and an IWC platinum buckle. Accompanied by the instruction booklet.
CHF 12,000 - 16,000
EUR 7,500 - 10,000 / USD 12,000 - 16,000
Sold: CHF 18,000
C. Three-body, polished and brushed, concave bezel, concave lugs, transparent back. D. Frosted silver with applied white gold Arabic numerals, outer dot minute indexes, subsidiary dials for the seconds and power-reserve indication. White gold feuille hands. M. C. 5000, nickel-plated, fausses cotes decoration, 44 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to 5 positions, shock absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance spring, micrometer regulator, patented Pellaton winding mechanism, rotor with inset 18K gold signature medallion. Dial and movement signed, case numbered. Diam. 42 mm. Thickness 14 mm
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AA |
Very good |
Case: 2 |
Very good |
Movement: 1* |
As new Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 1-01 |
As new HANDS Original |
Notes
I.W.C. Schaffhausen In the 1870s, Florentine Ariosto Jones, director of E. Howard & Co. in Boston, decided to manufacture high-quality movements and parts for the American market using American technology and skilled labor in Switzerland, where wages were comparatively low. However, it was not until Jones teamed up with Johann Heinrich Moser from Schaffhausen that his plan could be realized. Moser built a hydrostation in Schaffhausen powered by the Rhine, generating low-cost energy. In 1868, Jones created the International Watch Company. The first pocket watches produced in Schaffhausen with the Jones caliber had a wealth of advanced technical features. A year after its foundation, the "American" watch factory passed into Swiss hands, but its philosophy- "Probus Scafusia" (good, solid craftsmanship from Scaffhausen) -has remained unchanged. By the late 1930s IWC's reputation was so good that its watches were considered "the poor man's Patek Philippe". In recent years, IWC enlarged their horological scope by close cooperation not only with Jaeger LeCoultre, but also with A. Lange & Söhne in Glashütte.