I contacted IWC regarding the below question one month ago but did not get a response, so hopefully this forum can help me. I bought a Portofino Chronograph which has the calibre 75320. However, I do not find any information on this calibre in the IWC catalogue (chapter "Technology", page 18 f.). Instead, I found hints on the internet that this calibre is actually not an IWC calibre but an ETA calibre.
As a result my question is if this calibre 75320 (Portofino Chronograph) is a real IWC calibre and why it is not listed in the IWC catalogue together with the other IWC calibres.
Welcome to the forum and congratulations on an excellent purchase and a beautiful watch - I am currently considering the same. My (limited) understanding is that the Portofino Chronograph ref 3910 actually has the Cal 79320 (not 75320). The 79320 base is ETA 7750.
Confusion reigns here. The Portofino Chrono originally used a modified Valjoux 7750 movement made by ETA to IWC's specifications (calibre 79320). More recently, most Portofino Chronos use a movement made by Selita to IWC's specifications, hence the different calibre number. Both movements are nearly identical in design, quality, durability and accuracy, and are good movements.
Thanks for the clarifications and very quick responses. So if I understand correctly, the IWC 75320 is a good movement which was not manufactured by IWC but by Selita based on IWC's specifications (so an outsourced part). That's no problem - I was just curious because I did not find it in the calibres list in the catalogue. I am really happy with the watch and also the calibre. It actually runs for more than 52 hours and not only the specified 44 hours. Very strange, IWC was never in my focus, but when I saw it at the watch dealer next to various Omega, Longines, Breitling, Rolex watches - I really fell in love with this model and still am. :-)
Schiefinho, welcome to the forum and arriving in grand style as you do with a new Portofino Chrono - simply amazing and cool watch!
You wrote "Very strange, IWC was never in my focus, but when I saw it at the watch dealer next to various Omega, Longines, Breitling, Rolex watches - I really fell in love with this model and still am. :-) - indeed this is the experience of many of us to arrive at becoming an IWC fan and/or collector.
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Few days ago I have purchase the IWC Portofino Chronograph (not from an authorized dealer/boutique, but with the international official warranty certificate, hoping not to face problem for warranty).
I have read that inside the watch is cased a reliable movement; the caliber 75320, but not manufactured by IWC. Considered the watch's sales price, this caliber could be meant as a diminishing of the real watch's value ?
Hello David, welcome to the forum. As Michael has mentioned above, the 75320 is based on a Sellita (probably SW500) movement. Earlier, this caliber used to be 79320 which was based on the ETA Valjoux 7750. However, over the last decade ETA has decided not to supply movements to non-Swatch Group companies. This is why the Sellita movement was selected.
The Sellita movement is a near identical clone of the ETA 7750 as the latter's patents had expired. Sellita is a Swiss company and the movements it provides to IWC are based on IWC's stringent specifications, as was also the case with its older ETA 7750 cousin. The ETA 7750 is a workhorse and has an impeccable track record spanning decades. It has been in production for such a long time that all of its correctable shortcomings have probably been ironed out already. As if this weren't enough, IWC works its magic and improves it even further. Here’s some data on what IWC does to the ETA 7750 (and I am reasonable certain it does something similar to Sellita movement as well)
So, the Sellita being a clone of the 7750 + IWC’s major modifications is expected to perform at the same level of durability and precision.
As regards to collectability, this is always a function of how rare a watch is and the hype surrounding it. Though having an in-house movement does appeal to many, the sentiments can go the other way as well. Case in point: Rolex Daytona. The current version with the Rolex in-house 4130 is considered to be less collectible compared to the earlier generation 4030 movement based on Zenith caliber 400. Even rarer and more coveted are Rolex Daytonas based on Valjoux caliber 72. Also, IWC's Il Destriero Scafusia grand complication which was one of the most complicated watches in its time (and still one of the most coveted IWCs) has a movement based on the Valjoux 7760 (the manual wind cousin of the 7750)
Ultimately, it all boils down to how you feel about the watch – if you enjoy wearing it I don’t think these things should matter! Wear it in good health.
Just a small contribution from me as well. I have the exact same watch and its accuracy never ceases to amaze me. Something I could not say of other premium brand models priced even higher than the Portofino.
