Launched in 2020 as a more wearable version of IWC’s signature large-format dress watch, the High Quality Portugieser Automatic 40 Replica is a no-frills three-hander executed in a solid, workmanlike manner that is typical of the brand.
The large size of the various Portugieser models result from the movements, which either have a seven-day power reserve or chronograph, plus a few others that are even more complicated.That left a gap for a “small”, uncomplicated Portugieser. And so it has returned, combining the typical restrained aesthetics of the Portugieser line and the technical quality expected of IWC.
The Cheap IWC Replica is a wearable watch with a distinctive but classical aesthetic. Unlike its larger and more complicated counterparts in the Portugieser line, the 40 mm automatic is simple but still has the same recognisable aesthetic as well as a solidly engineered movement.
It’s moderately sized, though a little thick due to the movement inside. The movement is a good one, which makes the case height acceptable, though a slimmer case would certainly be more appealing and also echo the vintage original more closely.
At 40 mm, the IWC Fake Watch is a good size, but it is thick at just over 12 mm high, which is unusually tall for a time-only watch. In fact, it’s thicker than several high-end chronographs like the Patek Philippe ref. 5170. And the Lange 1815 Rattrapante is only 0.2 mm taller.
The watch doesn’t feel too big on the wrist, but the case height is obvious. While the Portugieser Automatic 40 looks like a Portugieser and has all the trademark design elements, it lacks the slim proportions of the vintage original, which is a bit of a shame.
The case quality is typical IWC Best Replica Watches – it feels solid and the surfaces are all sharply finished. Although simple in form and finish, it is solidly and neatly executed. One upside of the case thickness is the screw-down back, which is a nice touch though it doesn’t make it better or worse than a watch with a press-on back.
IWC’s signature winding mechanism was invented in 1946 by its longtime technical director Albert Pellaton. He devised a bidirectional system that relies on a heart-shaped cam and two pawls – a simple and efficient setup that does, however, require space to implement, so it will never be found in an ultra-thin or ultra-small movement.
The Portugieser Automatic 40 Swiss Replica Watch is appealingly for its simplicity. It focuses on a few things and does them well. The styling is clear and recognisable, while the quality of execution is uniformly workmanlike.Overall, it lives up to IWC’s historical strength of watches that are smartly engineered, industrially executed, and reasonably priced.
