Hi,
I'm seriously looking to buy my first IWC and looking at the white face blue hand Portuguese Automatic. In fact, I want to buy it tomorrow after seeing it last week. But my reseach on the net prompt some issue about accuracy problems of Portuguese Automatic. OK. One of the posting was in 2004 in this forum.
Can anyone help.
Don't let a couple of horror stories deter you from owning a mesmerising watch. I've been wearing mine almost daily, and it has been consistently running +3s a day. Every bit of the 5001 is top class, including the Pellaton winding system and the 7-day power reserve. The hardware within has the potential to be adjusted, regulated and fine-tuned to a high degree of accuracy. Have a look at this thread www.iwc.com/forum-en/topic/225173.html, I hope it can allay your concerns and shore up your resolve to get one, cheers!
Hi JL,
Thanks for the link and it does help to clear doubts. I like the picture of guys showing "off" :) their Portuguese Automatic white dial. I think its really a cool watch. Low profile and understated but eye turning.
One question. We are talking about IWC's own calibre 5000. But then we are talking about heavily modified ETA movement. Is calibre 5000 fully in-house developed and manufactured movement or is it still ETA heavlity modified movement?
The 5000 series of movements are designed, fabricated and assembled fully in-house.
When the first one came out, I wrote the following article about 10 years ago:
people.timezone.com/mfriedberg/Calibre5000.html
Since the first movement, there have been various modifications in design, and now the series
Is designated as Calibre51xxx (depending on the model) but the basic design is essentially the same, and it's in-house.
Hey Ricky the 5001 is a great model to have as a first IWC watch. You will truly get to experience a great brand.
When I first saw the watch i fell in love with it immediately. Anyway just wondering was there ever a IWC5001 with a white dial but black hour&mins hand?
Only in a new limited edition for Taiwan.
Hi shengyu, thanks. I'm already in love with it just want to check it's really good "gal". :)
I think white dial still goes better with blue hands.
By the way, can anyone tell how to tell when a piece of watch like Portuguese automatic being produced in which year? Say from the serial number o something?
Unfortunately mine was and is terrible.
when new it was 15 sec a day fast. and it got sent away to be regulated, and it's still what I consider faster then I would like.
For me it's a disappointment really, all that regulated to 5 positions .... and it still gaining time faster then I would like.
Hi Ricky,
As with any mechanical watch, there will always be a deviation. My 5001 was recently running in an erratic nature after three years of enjoyable ownership.
I sent it to my local AD, who is authorized by IWC to service this movement, and it came back at almost 100% accuracy and consistency!!!!!!!
The 5001-07 is a beautiful dial and almost the perfect watch, if there is such a thing, but this watch possesses so many great features and functions, that it is 'almost' perfect, LOL!!!!!!!
Hi Orion,
I can understand the fustration. As Nad says, we are playing with mechanical watch. Like it or not, it is part of the fun. If we want super accurate watch, quatz. Or mobile phone. Sorry, I don't mean to tease you. To me, mechanical watch is like human. It has its own emotion. Some time good, some time bad. Some time well, some time sick"ening". I faced that too and my heart aches. But still, I nevery like quatz watch.
Hi Nad,
Thanks for the great photo. You see, I always find portuguese automatic a bit too thick. But the photo you posted, the watch turn out so slim and sleek. It looks so gentleman with well built physique and pretty face if portuguese is a man.
Thanks guys. Looks like there are many portuguese fan out there. I'm not alone.
Anybody else out there are fan of portuguese?
Like to share a bit of experience of this gentleman watch.
Cheers.
Ricky
The darker brown strap looks very nice too! I might have to give that a try too!
Thanks for your lovely pictures Nad!
As for accuracy, mine is about 8 seconds fast per day but does so very consistently.
Kind regards,
Clemens
I will add to Nad's post that my 5001-07 was serviced by the same AD in last April. Since then, it has run continuously at not more than 2 seconds/day. After 4 years, it showed some discrepancy with its rate and stopped when the power reserve indicator showed that 3 days remained. It was due for a service. And before that, it has always be within 5 seconds/day, wich is imho very accurate for a mechanical watch.
Regards,
One of these days, 5449 will be mine
The 5001 is my favorite but I do like the Chrono and the hand wound F.A. Jones as well. The 5001-07 looks good on a dark blue band IMHO.
Jens-Kristian
Hello Portuguese fans out there. I am in the market for my first IWC. (My first "quality" watch I am definetley a neophyte . ).. I was interested in the 5001-13 the current model in rose gold, -, but saw a used 5001-01 for sale. My question is what is the difference? The specs appear to be the same. I could save some money on teh used one - has box/papers and photos appear that it is very clean and new looking, but perhaps the newer one has improvements in the movement?
thanks!
I think the current model 5001-13 is red gold. The 01 is rose gold. Red gold contains more cobber giving a stronger red colouration. We are talking small differences here.
Both movements are 51011.
Jens-Kristian
....Im also torn between the Rose Gold (it's stunning) and 5001-07 with blue hands which is probably more practical for more regular use. It does look good with either Blue or Brown strap.
I would be upset to get a nick or deep scratch in the Rose gold especially that it is so large and generally exposed on the wrist which is my main concern.
I have looked at them both so long its driving me nuts !
good luck with your purchase and enjoy !
I have the yellow gold Portuguese Perpetual Calendar, quite a big watch. I have worn it almost every day for a few years, and still wear it regularly. I have a straightforward life at work (office) and home. I never wear it when doing things in the house. After all these years my watch is virtually scratchless. So I would say: don't worry.
Kind regards,
Paul, wearing titanium Ingenieur Automatic, my unscratched outdoors watch
Aha, I thought the difference in color was more due to the photograph vs the type of gold. this makes sense. Now I have to decide which I like better..they are both great.