This week the NYC IWC Flagship Boutique hosted an event to introduce the
IWC Portugieser Hand-Wound Tourbillon Edition D.H. Craig USA to collectors. I was fortunate to be invited to see this beauty. Also attending was Michael Friedberg, who contributed a very special Craig movement for the displays.
The D.H. Craig USA Jones Tourbillon, reference IW546306, is driven by the caliber 98900 and is limited to 27 pieces in 18 carat red gold. The 27 pieces reflect F.A. Jones’s age when he formed IWC in Schaffhausen. Rather than deliver a long treatise on this special edition, I refer you to two articles on the Forum.
Or go to:
www.iwc.com/en-us/collection/portugieser/IW546306/
Or go to:
www.iwc.com/en/dh-craig-the-entrepreneurial-godfather-of-fa-jones/
There were over 130 guests invited to the Boutique for this event. Edouard d’Arbaumont, President IWC North America, was our host and made a presentation about the exhibit and the history of the D.H. Craig Jones models.
Here are a few snap shots of the evening.
The Boutique display was beautifully set up by Maria Tiu from IWC HQ and by Hoa Huynh, the Flagship manager. I understand they were hard at work at 2 am the night before getting the displays ready for the next evening’s event.
First, the star of the evening: It was displayed in a case not allowing close up shots or seeing more than the dial side.
Along side the D.H. Craig were other historic IWC references / calibers:
A Pattern B caliber Jones PW:
A Pattern S caliber Jones:
A Pattern R caliber Jones:
Michael loaned his recently acquired D.H. Craig Movement, #554, believed to be the lowest number movement known to exist. The numbering started at #500. He is very pleased to have located this movement and to share it with collectors.
Michael admiring his Craig movement display:
The Portugieser Anniversary Wristwatch from 1993. Be still my heart.
The Portugieser Minute Repeater Squelette 2004:
The festivities were certainly enjoyed by the lucky attendees:
MF watching the show and toasting the occasion:
Edouard during his presentation:
Edouard and MF.
Maria and Hoa were great hosts even after virtually no sleep the night before:
MF and I stopped by the Boutique earlier in the day, before the evening’s festivities, and were shown a couple of interesting new additions that I want to share here:
First, the Perpetual Calendar AT in red gold and Ti. It is a huge IWC at 49 mm and is in a LE of 50 pieces. It is very, very thick, but fits nicely on my XXL wrist.
The Ingenieur Chronograph Edition Rudolf Caracciola, reference 380702, in LE of 750 pieces. The 42 mm diameter is a bit small for me. The dial does not have an Ingenieur Logo, which is a bit strange. The display back may not please the Ingenieur purist. It is a lovely watch, however.
Lastly, we were shown an Annual Calendar BP. I don’t have information on this BP. Those with the inside info, please add on here:
Once again IWC and the staff of the NYC Flagship Boutique were first class hosts for this event. Thanks to Hoa and the HQ people for inviting me.
