Those blued screws on the new Portuguese movements

As you know, the new higher-end Portuguese movements have blued-screws. They look nice, but there is more to the story

As you may know, there are two ways of making screws blue. The first, and more common, way is chemical treatment. The screws are dipped in a bath, and in effect are painted.

The second, and more costly, way is to heat treat the screws. The screws are exposed to a flame until a specified temperature which causes them to discolor. This hardens the screw, and also is the more traditional way. It requires more handling but the true connoisseur finds this more special.

What does IWC do here? I asked Walter Volpers, the new head of Product Management at IWC, and he gave me the simple answer: heat treatment.

Good to know. I think another Richmont brand does the same....Lange.

They do, indeed. So beautiful that you almost could wear one inside out. There is another manufacturer in the same town that understands this quite well...

Yes, Ben. I was being circumspect trying not to be too off topic. I love that IWC is doing this. Here is my Lange 1 blue screws that regrettably I sold some time ago. . The hands were also blued. I love the IWC Portugiesrer with blued hands.

Absolutely gorgeous Bill - another dream of mine!

The Blue screws are indeed beautiful. My question is whether IWC will upgrade other models when servicing them. For instance, I have a Ref. 502307 with caliber 51613, and, of course, no blue screws were used. Would IWC replace the old screws with the blue ones when I send my watch for the first service?

Giovanni, I don't believe so. The screws are specified for the specific Calibres.

These movements technically and optically are top notch of the current IWC lineup. I've never seen something that came close. A watch dream from the downside as well. ;)
Of course the screws are heat treated. What else?

And some more blued screws :-)

Regards

HEBE