IWC Portuguese Automatic Limited Edition Taiwan 2011

IWC will be releasing a limited edition Portuguese watch to commemorate Taiwan 100 years as a Republic. The watch, The Portuguese Automatic Limited Edition for Republic of China 2011 will be produced in run of 100 pieces. It will have the classical appearance of the original Portuguese watch which first appeared in the 1930s.

The choice of using the Portuguese is apt, as Taiwan is also known as Formosa from the Portuguese Ilha Formosa (beautiful island). It was the name given to Taiwan by Portuguese explorers when they sailed past in the 16th century.

IWC in-house movement, the IWC calibre 51011 that offers IWC Pellaton winding system, will power the watch. The dial will feature the Portuguese classic embossed Arabic hour markers, the railroad minute track, seconds display (sub-dial) at the 9 o'clock position and the seven-day power reserve display at the 3 o'clock position.

Photographs: IWC

A gold medallion featuring the map of Taiwan has replaced the beautiful gold IWC Probus Scafusia medallion embedded in the middle of the rotor. The rotor will feature the inscriptions 'For Taiwan' and 'One Out of 100' in addition to the medallion. This is the new numbering system adopted by IWC. I believe this does away with the problem of unsold watches due to unwanted numbers, as certain numbers like 4 and 13 are not popular with certain cultures. Perhaps that is why there is no Mk. 13 and 14 in the Classic Pilot collection.

The watch will measure 42.3 mm in diameter and 14 mm thick. It will be fitted with a sapphire crystal and will be water resistant to 3 ATM. The watch is available worldwide.