Introducing a new IWC Portuguese Automatic Edition BJIFF 2015 with a striking Panda dial – A Future Collectable

20/04/2015 | By Frank Geelen | 3 min read |

Last Friday we told you about the new IWC Ingenieur Automatic Edition Laureus, with a very nice blue dial. Today we can show you yet another limited edition that we just need to tell you about. Why? Well, because of the dial. The new IWC Portuguese Automatic Edition BJIFF 2015 (which stands for Beijing International Film Festival 2015) has a so-called panda dial and it looks just so incredibly good. Limited to just 50 pieces, so again one that will become very collectible.

First a bit of history. Back in 1996 IWC introduced the Portuguese Rattrapante, which was the first of the (than new) IWC Portuguese Chronograph collection. First to be introduced were a platinum version with a silver/white dial and a white gold version with a black dial and white sub dials. The latter had the so-called inverse panda dial, which later also appeared in the “regular” Portuguese Chronograph in stainless steel. In 2007 IWC introduced a limited edition for the Japanese market, with a proper panda dial, and that one is highly collectable. The panda dial also made its appearance in the regular collection as ref. 3714-11.

The Portuguese Automatic , with IWC’s new in-house movement calibre 50000, was introduced in the year 2000. Initially it came with a silver/white dial (later also with a slate grey and a black dial) and in in 2009 IWC made a Portuguese Automatic Edition Laureus, with a blue dial and white sub dials – an inverse panda dial. Now for the first time there’s a Portuguese Automatic with a real panda dial. The IWC Portuguese Automatic Edition BJIFF 2015 is limited to just 50 pieces, only available through the IWC boutique in Beijing and Shanghai, and I’d be amazed if this does not become collector’s favourite.

This new IWC Portuguese Automatic Edition BJIFF 2015 features the new calibre 52010, which is part of the new 52000 family of movements. This new family of movements was introduced earlier this year, starting with the Portuguese Annual Calendar, and these movements features many improvements:

A double barrel instead of a single large barrel – always with 7 days of power reserve but with a better stability over the full range of power
An improved Pellaton winding mechanism
Winding pawls and automatic wheel made of black ceramic. Rotor bearing made of white ceramic. All of this for a better resistance and reliability because ceramic is practically wear-free
An index-less balance with an increased frequency of 4 hertz (28,800 vph) combined with a Breguet spring
A slimmer and redesigned rotor, partially skeletonized to improve the view on the movement
New design of the bridges, more open to have a better view on the technical elements
A nicer finish, with bevelled angles on the bridges and more details on the gears, bridges, wheels, screws (which are now blued)

The new IWC Portuguese Automatic Edition BJIFF 2015 is launched to underline IWC’s partnership with the Beijing Film Festival. According to the brand the watch reflects the aesthetics of the classic black&white movies, and the silver-plated dial with black subdials underline these sharp contrasts. Sounds good, however to me, and probably for many collectors, it has a lovely panda dial. The rotor of the automatic movement, calibre 52010, features an 18K gold medallion with the logo of the Beijing International Film Festival, and is engraved “BJIFF 2015 · ONE OUT OF 50.”

Some specifications:

Case: stainless steel, 42.3 mm in diameter, 14.5 mm thick, convex sapphire with antireflective coating on both sides, see-through sapphire crystal case back
Movement: IWC in-house calibre 52010, IWC’s Pellaton automatic winding system, 28,800 vph (4 Hz), Glucydur beryllium alloy index-less balance with high-precision adjustment screws on balance rim, Breguet spring, 7-days power reserve
Strap: black alligator leather strap, folding clasp in stainless steel

No word about the price, however a regular stainless steel Portuguese Automatic has a retail price of € 10,000 Euro (before tax). It comes with a renewed movement, and is a highly limited edition, so we expect a slightly higher price.