Hold onto your hats, watch enthusiasts, because the new IWC Portuguese Seven-Day is here to steal the show! The classic Arabic numerals and leaf-shaped hands have remained as the DNA elements of the Portuguese series, but this new ‘Portugieser’ has got some serious upgrades that will surprise you. Let’s delve into what makes this watch a game-changer.

First off, let’s talk about the case. While keeping the 42.4mm diameter intact, IWC ingeniously reduced the thickness from 14.1mm to 13mm. Now, 13mm might seem like a teeny number, but in watch land, it’s like transitioning from a thickset dinner plate to a sleek saucer. No more grumbling about dress watches being as chunky as diving watches!

The crystal is the next big highlight. To achieve that thinner feel, IWC opted for a dome-shaped sapphire crystal which not only gives the hands extra room to roam but also cranks up the aesthetics by a notch or two. And guess what? The see-through case back also flaunts a dome sapphire mirror, offering an unobstructed view of the watch’s innards. Talk about going all out on craftsmanship!

The dial has gone through a makeover too. The former railway-style markers on the small seconds subdial at 9 o’clock have been nixed. Additionally, the ‘1’ zone on the power reserve indicator at 3 o’clock no longer wears a red hue. These tweaks contribute to an overall cleaner and more cohesive dial design.

All in all, the APS production of IWC’s Portuguese series is truly aiming for perfection!