IWC Schaffhausen / Watch design
Portofino, perpetually.
Portofino Perpetual Calendar · Ref. 3446
A classical watch conceived to outlive trends.
The goal was simple: reduce visual weight, refine proportions, and design a perpetual calendar that feels inevitable rather than fashionable.
Timeless by Intention
Reducing Perceived Thickness
The main challenge was visual lightness.
A double-box sapphire crystal elevates the movement and minimizes the metal casering, reducing apparent thickness while preserving complexity.
These solutions became a trailblazer within IWC, later influencing multiple designs, most notably across the Portugieser family.
DECISIONS AND COMPROMISES
The calendar uses familiar starting positions: 31, December and Sunday. Within that layout, the work centred on making the complexity feel calm.
A flat calf strap replaced the padded alligator strap, reducing bulk and giving the watch a cleaner, more contemporary profile.
A Classical Disruption
Less Metal. More Intention.
The Portofino Perpetual Calendar 3446 proved that restraint can lead innovation. By refining presence rather than adding spectacle, the design quietly set a new direction for IWC.
This project was developed during my tenure as a watch designer at IWC Schaffhausen. All designs, trademarks and intellectual property are the exclusive property of IWC Schaffhausen and the Richemont Group. The material presented here consists only of publicly released products and is shown solely to document my professional contributions.