I've been trying to get a replacement strap for my old Portofino through my local IWC AD for 3 months now, but they can't seem to get it right. Has anyone been down this road before? Does IWC still make [to order] the following colored strap for the Portofino?
I almost had an answer for you. I have a list of official straps by IWC, the one you need will be on that list. Your AD should have that list too. I put the list on the web site of Michael Friedberg, however, calling that site I could not find it. But I am a bad finder. Michael, please, could you help?
Kind regards,
Paul
Here is the strap reference page:
www.iwcforum.com/Straps/Straps_2009.pdf
You can also go here www.weeber.biz/IWC/Workbook/search.html and search for your watch by it's reference number. You should be able to find the exact strap reference that corresponds to your watch.
Cheers,
Evan
Thanks very much guys. I'm off to absorb this material...
I see a couple of useful pieces of the puzzle, but still no definitive answer just yet (the PDF manual for a year 2003 3533 isn't available online). Sorry to be such a noob, but What is the URL for "Michael Friedberg's website"? That reference list of all IWC straps would be extremely helpful (i.e. in addition to the color chart).
Thanks Again,
Chris
Chris, you are right. Looks like the years 2003-2005 are missing. My guess is that they have been omitted because the 3533 hadn't changed and the 2006 catalogue reflects the 3533 for all those years.
The first link in my previous post is the one on "MF's website", it just does not list every watch reference next to each strap because a lot of straps fit more than one watch.
Cheers,
Evan
Hi Chris,
I have a copy of the 2004 workbook and the standard length strap for the Ref 3533 is listed as Ref IWA12163 and described as croco mat brown. The same Ref number (IWA12163) in the strap link (pdf) posted by Evan describes it as "red-brown dull", look under the 20mm-16mm (lug width - buckle width) and match the strap Ref number.
The number for the brown XS strap for the Ref 3533 is shown as IWA12165 and the brown XL strap as IWA12164.
Hope this helps.
Cheers from the cellar
I ended up convincing myself that the IWA20081 that IWC originally shipped my AD is the same strap as my original with only two minor differences:
1) The strap sizes are funky now. The tail portion is unbelievably long, and the buckle segment/piece is short. They claim that they intentionally redesigned it for better fit and comfort with the deployant.
2) The color looks quite different, but I'm hoping that a similar patina will eventually develop. Seems like it is in the right general neighborhood. It just needs to age, darken, and pick up some character on some of the more exposed areas. Otherwise, why on earth would I spend this much on a calf strap (grin).
THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HELP. This was invaluable in my decision process.