One out of 25 for Switzerland

I was immediately attracted to the Portuguese Digital Perpetual Calendar (DPPC, Ref. 397201) when I saw a first (non-official) photograph in the internet just before the SIHH in January 2015.
I always wanted to add a digital perpetual calendar to my collection, but so far I did not like the design of the Da Vinci, Ingenieur and Spitfire version. I prefer the elegant, understated watch; therefore it had to be the DPPC. I asked my AD to check for the availability and the prize of the watch when he would visit the SIHH. I was very disappointed when my AD reported to me that there is a limitation of 25 pieces worldwide with only single watch destined for Switzerland. I was actually close to “bury” my dream watch. But then I thought why not try my luck and get grip on that single watch for Switzerland. I could only win! So on the Monday morning just after SIHH I sent an email to all three IWC boutiques in Switzerland that I’m very interested in the Pt DPPC and whether I could order it. 20 min. after I had sent out my mails the Geneva IWC boutique responded that the first person that would place the definite order on the Pt DCCP would get it. So I did the necessary and I was assigned the watch. Not only this I could even select the number of the watch. Today was the day where I travelled to Geneva to collect my “grail-watch”. And I’m more than happy: The watch looks better in reality as on the photos I had seen seen so far. Ok, I admit I’m biased. But please have a look at my pictures and judge yourself.
I would like to thank Mr. Adil Stati from the Geneva IWC Boutique who - with its great support and fast action - made my dream come true.
Urs

Congrats on this beauty! It is one of the best wrist shots I saw so far from a 397201.
I really like your acquisition story as well and I think you well deserve that piece out of your passion for this watch.

Wear it in good health and thanks for sharing.

Cheers Chris

GASP

That is an absolutely stunning watch with an amazing complication.

Congratulations on achieving your grail, what an achievement!

Wear it in good health,
Thang

Congrats on this beauty! It's absolutely stunning. Also the pictures a great - keep them coming!
Best,
-christian

Hi Urs, great story, great to 'see you' back and fantastic watch! Thanks for sharing and wear it in good health!

Bob

This is a truly amazing looking watch: on picture alone I think it is about the nicest watch ever seen. If it looks even better on the wrist, then you have hit the jackpot: fantastic! I agree with you that the Portuguese version for this movement is the best by far, so clean, it reminds me of pictures I saw of the minute repeater years ago. So, congratulations, enjoy this beauty!

Kind regards,
Paul

Wow, wow, wow - a stunning watch, fantastic photos and a great story! I bow my head in admiration, that is truly a stunning timepiece. You know, it looks even better in your pictures than when I had the privilige of seeing it at SIHH :-)
You have a magnificient piece there, and with that tenacity you deserve to enjoy it for a long, long time - CONGRATULATIONS!

Bog congratulations on fulfilling your dream and even in such a straight and elegant way :o) Wear your watch in good health!

Spectacular. Well done indeed :-)

I may be just a pedestrian looking up in the stratosphere, but even from this perspective it looks stunning. And photography to match such a masterpiece. I also happen to think that platinum suits it better than gold. There is something I don't understand, though. Wouldn't it have been technically feasible to have Roman numerals for the months, thus doing away with the "date" and "month" inscriptions? Or am I missing something here?

It's clear: this watch deserves you. Congratulations.

A fantastic acquisition. It is Stunningly beautiful. Wear it in good health and be sure to continue to post photos of this beauty! Congratulations.
Jeff

Congratulations. It's a stunner and sounds like it found the right home. Looks pretty amazing in the pics.

Urs, the biggest congratulations from Basel to your great acquisition and enthusiasm you put in this project. An absolutely stunning piece of watch! You definitely deserve it!

Great story, and I know just how it feels to acquire a grail watch! A lovely piece with a very special number - yours is the last one in the series. Congratulations and enjoy it in good health.

While I agree that roman numerals would have done away with the "date" and "month" inscriptions, there would be some big challenges that would crop up - Since in the current execution, the aim is to have both unit's and ten's digits change, this would have been a problem when displaying Roman numerals as some of them occupy four places (instead of two in the current movement). Below I have tried to extrapolate how the digits would change in the windows on the dial ( ), you will immediately notice a problem from the third month (III) onwards:

I = ( )(I)
II = (I)(I)
III = (II)(I) or (I)(II) in this case which disk would change?

So, you can see that while it is possible, the change sequence of the disks is quite complex making the month change programming much more complicated. Also, there would be an aesthetics issue when cramming too many numerals in one window and the uneven space between numerals in different windows such as in the case of VIII = (V)(III) or (VI)(II).

The only practical solution would be to have a single disk (for a single window) with all the months in either Roman numerals or names like 52850 caliber in the Portugieser Annual Calendar 5035. But that would reduce the "digital" specialty (and appeal) of this movement as now only the "date' disk would be digital.

Urs
Quite a grail (till the next one my friend) for quite a collection, my compliments it is a beautiful watch.

This is simply a beautiful and stunning piece. It just shines.