Introducing the IWC Portofino Monopusher Edition “Tribeca Film Festival 2015” Unique Piece

We’ ve seen many watch brand introducing new timepieces, usually limited edition and some times one-off’s, to highlight their relationship with a car brand, a football club, or, like now, a film festival. What we haven’t seen before is that a brand uses such an introduction to launch an entirely new movement. And that’s exactly what IWC does, now they introduce the ‘pièce unique’ IWC Portofino Monopusher Edition “Tribeca Film Festival 2015”, which showcases the new Portofino hand-wound 8-days movement with an integrated mono-pusher chronograph. Oh, and you can own this ‘pièce unique’ because it will be sold through the online auction by Christie’s.

One of the virtues of using a large movement is that it’s possible to integrate additional complications. Until now IWC’s Hand-Wound 8-Days movement, a large movement, featured a small off centre second display (at 6 o’clock), a power reserve indicator (at 9 o’clock) and a date (or a large date in the Portofino Hand-Wound Big Date).  Now IWC uses exactly this movement and adds a column-wheel chronograph.

The chronograph functions can be operated by a monopusher, which is integrated in the crown. By pushing the push-piece in the crown, you can start, and stop the chronograph and with a third push the chronograph counter will be reset to zero. It records up to 60 minute time intervals, which is displayed in the Bordeaux-coloured 60-minute sub dial at 12 o’clock. The other Bordeaux-coloured sub dial is for the running seconds, the date is displayed though a small aperture at 3 o’clock and the power reserve is at 9 o’clock position.

The movement, calibre 59360, still boasts a power reserve of 192 hours, or precisely 8 days. Just left of the “T” of Tribeca (print on the crystal case back) you can see a large column-wheel, which is used for actuating the various chronograph functions (start/stop/reset). We’ll be looking forward to see this movement appear in the regular Portofino collection!

The sapphire crystal case back has a “Tribeca Film Festival 2015 unique piece” print and it will be sold through the Christie’s online auction. As a special bonus this IWC Portofino Monopusher “Tribeca Film Festival 2015” comes with some extra benefits for the auction winner and one guest:

Two tickets to IWC’s “For the Love of Cinema” Gala Dinner hosted by IWC’s CEO Georges Kern and Tribeca Film Festival Co-Founders Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff, to be held on April 16, 2015. You will be dining alongside celebrity attendees and spotting some of Hollywood’s brightest young stars and iconic personalities on the red carpet. That’ll be an unforgettable evening! For two nights (April 16-17 2015) you’ll stay at the Trump Soho luxury hotel. 

The IWC Portofino Monopusher Edition “Tribeca Film Festival 2015” comes in an 18K white gold case, which measures 45mm in diameter and 13mm in height. The starting price at the online Christie’s auction is $ 30,000 USD and you’ll have to register to bid. Mind you, this is not just a unique piece, this is a launching piece with IWC’s new in-house Hand-Wound 8-Days Monopusher chronograph movement, and a piece that will surely become hugely collectible.

Go to the Christie’s online auction here.