IWC Portugieser - Stainless Steel - Chronograph Rattrapante 3712

IWC, or International Watch Company, is a prestigious name with a rich legacy in the world of watchmaking. Founded in 1868 by Florentine Ariosto Jones, an American engineer, the company was established in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, with the goal of blending Swiss craftsmanship with advanced American engineering techniques. Today, IWC is perhaps best known for its iconic Portugieser model, though the history of this timepiece is one marked by years of struggle and delayed success. The model's origins date back to the late 1930s, when two Portuguese businessmen—who would later inspire the model's name—visited IWC's headquarters in Schaffhausen. They proposed the development of a large stainless steel wristwatch housing a movement capable of matching the precision of a marine chronometer. The Portugieser, most likely due to its very generous case dimensions, turned out to be a commercial flop. Between 1939 and 1970, only around 633 pieces were produced—304 with the Caliber 74 and 329 with the upgraded Caliber 98—resulting in an extremely low output of approximately 20 pieces per year. A small number of additional pieces, known as the “German Edition” due to their primary market, were produced from the 1970s until 1981, featuring the enhanced Caliber 982, which added shock protection to the movement. It was Kurt Klaus, the renowned watchmaker and key figure behind IWC's revival in the 1990s, who brought the Portugieser project back to life. Under his guidance, IWC reintroduced the Portugieser in a limited edition, reference 5441, to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the brand's founding. The launch of this new version was met with widespread acclaim, establishing the Portugieser as a horological icon and a symbol of IWC’s legacy. With this renewed success, collectors eagerly sought the very few vintage models produced during the 30-plus years production run. And the Maison released two more limited editions in 1995, introducing complications into the collection for the first time. The first was the Ref. 5240, a minute repeater limited to 550 pieces (50 in platinum, 250 in rose gold, and 250 in yellow gold), which introduced the prestigious minute repeater complication to the Portugieser line. However, the second release, the IWC Portugieser Chronograph Rattrapante Ref. 3712—also known as the DoppelChronograph—was the more significant of the two. The design of the Ref. 3712, which later inspired the popular automatic chronograph version, perfectly aligned with the Portugieser's ethos. The 41mm case with integrated lugs maintained the model’s signature ultra-thin bezel, allowing the dial to shine and ensuring flawless readability. The opaline dial featured a “dotted” minute track, applied Arabic numerals, and slightly recessed chronograph counters positioned vertically. Inside the stainless steel case runs the reliable hand-wound Valjoux 7750, augmented by a module developed by Richard Habring, adding the prestigious and highly complicated split-second function, while still remaining accessible. This iconic limited edition timepiece, dating to circa 1995, is in excellent condition.