Difference in Portofino Chronograph Movements

Hi,

I noticed the calibre designation of the Portofino chronograph has been changed from '79320' to '75320'.

This started with the Laureus special edition, then the regular edition had its calibre number changed too....

What is the difference between the 2?

I have just bought the IWC portofino chronograph. After a big research on the internet the only thing I found is that there exists a big possibility that the new portofino wears a selita movement and not an ETA one. If possible for the moderator to give us some technical details about the portofino' s chrono movement, it would help the owners of this watch to have a shperical picture of it.
Thank you in advance.

I wonder if the Sellita movements in the IWC watches get some special IWC-treatment or quality improvements, like the ETA movements got. At another forum a watch maker showed a not too favourable picture of a Sellita 200 movement: that movement I would never like to have in any of my watches. Not only something went horribly wrong, apparently not for the first time, the movement also looked quite cheap, without any finesse.

Kind regards,
Paul

I don't have an image but I have been told that the Selitas used by IWC are
--specific to IWC's specifications and
--visually and functionally are like the ETAs that IWC uses, which also are to IWC's specifications.

What Paul mentions about a different Selita movement, not used by IWC, unnecessarily poisons the water.

Well, it would help to know which movements are used and what is done to them. Until now not too much information about them is shared here, and certainly in the circles that like top notch watches Sellita movements are not looked at very favourably. Before my unnecessary poisoning remark I invited some explanation that in my opinion is only given in a very superficial way.

Kind regards,
Paul

I hope that soon will be solved the mystery of the exact type of the selita movement located at each IWC watch. When someone buys a watch created from a prestigious company, the minimum requirement of the buyer-owner, is to know technical details for the construction of the product. The trade policy of a company should be based on both the aesthetic uniqueness of watches and technical specifications. As a portofino chrono owner, I feel somewhat disappointed and worried about the longevity of the watch I bought.
Kind Regards
Nicolas

Discussions like this one turn up at regular intervals. Sometimes someone just wants to bash IWC. Often it has to do with someone not doing his or her homework, some of the info about IWC and thirdparty movements can be found on the net. 

But I feel that part of the dicussions originate in the fact that IWC is very secretive about what basemovements are being used, what IWC does or doesn't do to them and to what specifications outsourced movements are built. Information is shared in the forum, but only when asked. It is not part of normal communication by IWC.

I think that, if IWC would be more open, less discussions like this one and/or misunderstandings would occure.

I agree with you Bas. I have not seen the 2012/2013 Catalogue, however, the 2011/2012 provides a specification table of all in-house movements. I would like IWC to expand this table for all movements of IWC watches in the current family collection.

Hi Pual,

Here's a picture of a c.35110 (Sellita based). I wouldn't have a problem with it in one of my watches.

Picture by VON

I've also read around the internet that the change in calibre is due to IWC moving from the ETA to Salita movement. I am thinking about purchasing the Portofino and would like to know more about the in-house upgrade of the Salita movement.

I found the following link on WUS really helpful but it doesn't explain the salita alteration.

Please help IWC!

I have recently purchased a Portofino Chronograph 2012 model. I have seen today from this Forum that the timepiece uses a Sellita Movement.

Michael has commented the new range uses a Sellita movement.

I have just calle IWC to check and they have told me they do not use Sellita movements in the Portofino watch? Who is telling the truth here?

If the Portofino is using a Sellita movment then I am disgusted as this is a chinese company and not Swiss. This is my first luxury timepiece and I had hoped I was purchasing a 'Swiss Made' watch, not a swiss Case with a Chinese movement.

Cheaper, less well known brands use Sellita, so why is IWC, am I paying for the brand?

This isnt IWC bashing its wanting to know you are getting the quality you hope for.

Any help on this matter would be greatly recieved.

John-Paul

When you posted your identical text to another discussion here (www.iwc.com/forum/en/discussion/31989/?page=2#post_409984)

I indiciated that Sellita is NOT a Chinese company, and is located in Le Chaux-de-Fonds, Swizterland. Your misinformation must have result from a misleading Blog article, as I indicated there.

By the way, cheaper and less known brands use ETA too. So do more expensive watches.