Portuguese Auto 7 day dial help please!

Hello everyone,

I greatly appreciate everyones assistance. I am a 35yr old that has to wear a suit everyday for work however I am a total jeans guy at night and on the weekends. I am looking to purchase a Port Auto 7 day 5001-09( black dial/black strap) or the 5001-07(silver dial w/blue numbers and a black strap instead of the blue strap.) I can appreciate the blue strap but I prefer the black strap. My question is if one model is more versatile to dress up and/or dress down than the other? Lasty, can anyone comment if the black strap looks good with the silver dial/blue numbers? The AD I have spoken to informed me they make that combination all the time however I don't know if he is being honest or just trying to sell me a watch. I am looking for a nice timepiece that will stay in style forever and I feel confident either of these options will give me that ability. I am a type of guy that can usually make a decision rather easily but this is "killing me." I am very interested to hear which model everyone would choose. I sincerely appreciate everyones help and thanks in advance!

Welcome to the forum LINDY.

I wear my 5001-09 with a brown aligator strap, it looks good with casual and formal dress. Whatever works for you is best.

Zyxtimer

my own view is:

• the 5001-09 is very dressy (black on black).

• the 5001-07 with black strap i personally don't think works (and yes, i think the AD is just trying to sell you a watch when they say they do it all the time!)

• i agree with zyxtimer, have you ever considered a brown or dark brown strap to go with either dial? that either 'softens' the formality of the black dial 5001-09 or 'hardens' the casualness of the 5001-07's blue strap (and makes it easier to work casually either way i'd say). example picture below.

good luck, vinhthang

The black dial has no lume like most Portuguese models therefore the quick glance in poor light may not give you the time, it may well require a good hard look.
I went for the SS with silver dial and gilt hands and numbers, formal and yet casual, it comes with black strap but can be worn with brown strap, got a brown on order.

And FWIW, I that's my favorite of the SS Portuguese Automatics. And I think a brown strap would be a great addition.

My opinion. Silver dial blue numbers is going to be most versatile with any strap. Black strap most formal. Brown strap is formal and casual. Blue strap could be formal and definitely casual.

I'll leave to others to comment whether they think the 5001-09 or the 5001-07 meets your needs the best. What I can tell you is, unequivocally, that the a Portuguese Austo 7 Day will stay in style forever...it is a classic you will never regret owning!

I selected the silver dial w blue hands and blue strap, it works for me in almost every situation and as it has been said its a classic forever.
Good luck.
Regards,
Kevin

I've had the SS/ Black dial for 6 years now. What a watch! I have bought a number of great watches since then, but I always come back to it. It is perfect for a business/corporate setting, but is equally appropriate with jeans. For me, the blue one is a little more casual and might not fit every situation.

LINDY, 500107 works for me. I was like you and I resisted the blue straps initially. However, a fellow forummer told me the straps get darker as time passes and the colour will almost be like black. I have an extra pair of black straps as well but it was never used.

One way to decide would be to take photos of you wearing the watch from a distance. To each his own, there's no right or wrong in buying either. Try both watches till you are really happy. If you can find one reason not to buy one, then probably you should buy the other. Just my humble opinion.

Good evening,
Blue strap is definitely the perfect combination for jeans. Very nautical or generally put: outdoor-like. the blue numerals are dark enough not to clash with the black strap, and recall that the blue hands are very common for the white dials.
Try laying the black strap on top of the blue with the watch extended. Also think that blue strap might look odd with grey or lighter suits
Good luck
Regards
EK

The strange thing is, I am now in a dilema about choice between the 500107 & 09 and even the 14 (gold plated hads/numerals), and I hadn't even seriously contemplated buying one before!! Must be the virus.

Thanks everyone for the advice! I greatly appreciate it. I am leaning towards the 5001-07 however I am still a little hesitant because I am concerned the watch might not look very good with the black strap. I understand the blue numbers can basically look black in certain lights but I have always had the impression to never mix black and blue together. I had spoken to the IWC boutique yesterday and their advice was it would not look very good. I guess that is one person's opinion but I assume he knew what he was talking about being a IWC boutique. I would be interested what your all opinion would be. On a side note, I originally was interested in the 5001-09 before I started this post. With 90% of the votes being the 5001-07 being the winner as the most versatile. I still really like the black dial/black strap and I am curious if that was the watch I was going to buy, would you all have any hesitation buying it as a dress and causal watch. It appears some people would say the all black is too dressy so I am looking for advice. I had the impression it was such a classic look that it could be dressed or dressed down but maybe I am wrong. I guess I really don't know if people just don't like the all black 09 at all or they just prefer the 07. Hopefully I am making sense. I hate to admit it but I really don't have anyone else to bounce these ideas off so I really appreciate the help. With being a large purchase like this, I don't want to make a mistake that I will regret in 12 months. Thanks in advance everyone!

dave

If you got a silver dialled 5001 then your next IWC could be a SS Pilot XVII, World Timer or Chrono with black or ardoise dial. The 5001 is a good watch but it is far more expensive than the XVII or Chrono pilots in SS. Just a thought for you to consider. The Ceramic pilots and Big Pilots are hardly cheap as pilot models. Some of those pilots I suggested are also available with a bracelet option.