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Yacht rock: the new IWC Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide boasts the brand’s first silicon hairspring

This year has been all about the Portugieser for IWC. At Watches & Wonders Geneva, the Schaffhausen brand unveiled a variety of new colourful dials and interesting designs for the collection – the highlight being the epoch-defining Portugieser Eternal Calendar . At Watches & Wonders Shanghai, the love continues, with IWC bringing the Portugieser back to its roots while also introducing its first movement with a silicon hairspring. For those that don’t know, the design of the original Portugieser ref. 325 from 1939 was inspired by deck observation watches – harking back to the glamour of seafaring and the Age of Exploration . The new IWC Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide IW344002, however, is all about the glamour of recreational yachting, offering an innovative take on a tide indicator.

The original ref. 325 was IWC’s first oversized watch intended for civilians, measuring up at an enormous-for-the-time 41.5mm. The Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide is big by modern standards, too, measuring 44.6mm in diameter and 13.4mm thick. That’s bigger than most pilot’s watches IWC offers – but in this instance, bigger is better, as it allows extra real estate for its namesake complications. More on those in a second. In any case, IWC’s modern Portugieser Yacht Club collection has been home to larger, brassier takes on the Portugieser ever since its introduction in 2010, and the Yacht Club Moon & Tide follows in that tradition.

The Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide was first introduced in 2020 with the red gold ref. IW344001 . This model in stainless steel brings the heft factor down somewhat, while also featuring a better water-resistance rating (100 metres versus the ref. IW344001’s 60 metres). Otherwise, the new stainless steel ref. IW344002’s case features an identical design to its red gold sibling, flaunting a beautifully polished bezel, stout lugs and a crown guard that almost looks like two pushers.

Fans of 2024 Portugieser novelties like the Hand-Wound Tourbillon Day & Night and its mesmerising obsidian black dial will be pleased to hear that the new Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide also sports this stygian tone. In fact, it’s one of only two regular-production Portugiesers to feature this combination of an obsidian black dial and a stainless steel case, the other being the Portugieser Chronograph.

At the 12 o’clock position, one can find a “Double Moon” moonphase indicator, which displays the moon phase as seen from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, and is accurate for 125 years – not bad. Additionally, it also shows spring and neap tides. A spring tide (which has nothing to do with the season) is the greatest difference between how high the water is at high tide and how low it is at low tide. By the way, if you’ve ever heard the term king tide, that’s just an especially high spring tide. These typically happen at full moon and new moon. A neap tide is the smallest difference in tidal range. Make sense?

Speaking of tides, at the 6 o’clock position, you’ll find the tide indicator, which helps the wearer track the slightly shifting times for high and low tides. High tides occur roughly every 12 hours and 24 minutes – however, the Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide compensates for this thanks to a reduction gear with three wheels, converting the hourly rhythm of normal time-telling into the slower rotation of the tidal disc by rotating the tide disc by 24 minutes between high tides.

In typical IWC fashion, both the tide indicator and Double Moon display are minimalist but highly legible, with subtle pops of contrast provided by lettering in red and blue breaking up the dial’s otherwise monochromatic look. The seconds hand is also tipped in red, while a colour-matched date window can be found at 3 o’clock. It’s classically elegant Portugieser fare.

The movement

The clever display of this Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide IW344002 is all thanks to the new calibre 82836, which is identical to the 2020 model’s calibre 82835 save for one key change: the introduction of a silicon hairspring. To tell the truth, I was surprised to hear that this movement is IWC’s first with a silicon hairspring, considering how prolific the tech is even among brands and movements far less developed than IWC. Of course, the advantages of silicon hairsprings are manifold: silicon is inherently anti-magnetic, thermally stable, doesn’t deform like a traditional hairspring, and doesn’t require lubrication, among other properties.

Some traditionalists say the use of silicon removes some of the artistry from watchmaking – and silicon hairsprings can also be more fragile than traditional steel hairsprings – but I won’t wade into that debate. IWC reckons it’s worth it, otherwise they wouldn’t have updated this movement. Silicon hairspring aside, the calibre 82836 also features IWC’s Pellaton automatic winding system (which utilises ceramic parts – are they sacrilege too?), with a confidence-inspiring 60-hour power reserve.

The bracelet

The Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide IW344002 comes mounted on a three-link steel bracelet with a butterfly clasp. While we’ve seen bracelets of this design offered before on Portugieser models, it’s the first time a bracelet has been offered on this complication, as the ref. IW344001 came on a rubber strap.

The verdict

Most people who are actually part of yacht clubs probably don’t sail their own boats, but there’s something highly appropriate about having complications like a tide indicator and moonphase on a Portugieser Yacht Club. Being stainless steel, it makes it more suitable for ocean-going than its previous red gold incarnation (not that you’d really call this a tool watch). The addition of a silicon hairspring is a nice touch – it’s only something that real enthusiasts will get excited about, but it’s nice – but the big selling point for this watch in my opinion is that its movement compensates for the discrepancy between the tide cycle and the normal 24-hour cycle. This makes it a more user-friendly experience than other tide-tracking watches like the Baume & Mercier Riviera Tideograph .

IWC Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide IW344002 pricing & availability

The IWC Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide IW344002 is available now for purchase. Price: US$22,500, A$35,000, £20,500

The Updated IWC Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide, the First IWC with a Silicon Hairspring

For the first time, iwc schaffhausen relies on innovative silicon material in one of its manufacture movements..

This year, IWC brings the emblematic Portugieser collection under the spotlight, introducing several stunning new additions to the collection, including the impressive Eternal Calendar and updates to several iconic models, such as the chronograph and the 7-day Automatic . On the occasion of Watches and Wonders Shanghai, the brand unveils a new version of its Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide . Now available in steel with an obsidian black dial, this sportier model debuts an updated movement featuring a silicon hairspring for the first time at IWC.

Originally presented in 2020, the gold Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide introduced a complication that could not be more appropriate for the nautical-themed “Yacht Club” sub-collection. The original, specific functionality of the model relies on two sub-counters linked to moon phases and tide calculations.  

The sub-dial at 6 o’clock displays the expected times for the next high and low tides. The interval between two high tides is consistently 12 hours and 24 minutes. After an initial calibration (via the crown) using tide tables for a specific location, the indicator remains highly accurate, with a deviation of only 10 minutes over 100 years.

The double moon phase display at 12 o’clock, featuring IWC’s signature double moon for both hemispheres, has been enhanced to indicate spring and neap tides. This provides valuable information about the tide’s strength. Spring tides, which bring particularly high water levels, occur during the full moon and new moon phases.

This new iteration of the Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide introduces a more modern, sportier aesthetic to the model. Now crafted in steel, the case is still 44.6mm in diameter but is now water-resistant to 100m. The Obsidian Black dial is subtly enhanced with red and blue accents, adding a dynamic touch to the overall design.

One of the key upgrades is related to the movement powering these two complications. The new calibre 82836, an evolution of the 82835, marks IWC’s first use of a silicon hairspring. Operating at 4Hz, the balance is visible through the exhibition caseback. The automatic winding mechanism employs a Pellaton system, enhanced with virtually wear-free ceramic components, and builds up a power reserve of 60 hours in the mainspring.

Although the brand hasn’t provided further details, this first model to feature a  silicon hairspring is likely not the last. While opinions on modern silicon hairsprings vary, this material offers undeniable technical advantages. This synthetic material is thermally stable, non-magnetic, lightweight, durable, and ideal for crafting hairsprings that outperform those made from traditional metal alloys. Silicon hairsprings have been around for about 20 years, initially restricted to a few brands by a patent held by CSEM as part of a collaboration between the Swatch Group, Patek Philippe, and Rolex (plus Ulysse Nardin). With the patent now expired, and despite new patents being filed, it was expected that more brands would start using silicon hairsprings. For more details, check out our article here .

The steel IWC Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide (reference IW344002) is presented on a stainless steel bracelet with brushed H-links and polished centre links. A pair of pushers release its folding buckle and features a fine-adjustment system. The price is set at CHF 22,000 .

For more information, please visit www.iwc.com .

Technical specifications – IWC Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide Stainless Steel

2 responses.

Good luck with an almost 45mm watch in this day and age. 41-42mm would be much nicer in my very personal opinion and much closer to the sweet spot of 40-42mm for a sports or sporty watch. 13.4mm height is very good for the complications this watch offers!

Size and price aside, this watch looks GOOD.

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• IW3440002 : Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide Stainless Steel / Black / Bracelet

IWC - IW3440002 Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide Stainless Steel / Black / Bracelet

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Iwc iw3440002 description.

The Portugiser Yacht Club Moon & Tide IW3440002 debuted in 2024. This Portugieser has a Stainless Steel case and matching bracelet, paired with a Black dial. It is powered by caliber 82835, a self-winding movement with tide and moonphase indication, and -a first for the brand- a silicon balance spring.

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1960s IWC Yacht Club ref.811 blue dial with original Gay Frères bracelet

Founded in 1868, IWC is a Swiss company founded by Florentine Ariosto Jones, an American watchmaker motivated by the combination of Swiss knowledge and American technology. Today, IWC is recognized as one of the great names in the industry, renowned for its passion, innovative solutions and technical ingenuity.

Since then, IWC has established itself among the world’s top ten brands in the luxury watch segment, creating masterpieces of haute horlogerie, combining high precision and masculine design. It has produced some of the most sought-after watches, such as the Portugieser, Portofino, Aquatimer, Ingenieur, De Luxe and pilot’s watches.

Here’s the IWC Yacht Club reference automatic version: This superb IWC wristwatch is crafted in a stainless steel case, with a beautiful blue dial, an original bracelet and an excellent in-house automatic movement cal.8541B.

The case is unpolished, in excellent condition and retains its original bevels. With a diameter of over 36 mm excluding the crown and a width of 43 mm between the lugs, the watch looks great on the wrist.

Magnificent blue dial with applied silvered baton hour markers and applied IWC logo, in very good original condition, signed: “IWC International Watch Co.Schaffhausen” and “Yacht Club Automatic”, genuine silver hands in good condition, clear crystal, original crown, neat and in very good condition.

The watch comes with an original “Gay Frère SA” and signed IWC bracelet.

Brand IWC Model Yacht Club  Year Circa 1960 Case material Stainless Steel Movement Automatic IWC 8541B Diameter 36mm Location Paris

Case Unpolished Dial Nice & Clean condition Hands Original Crown Original Bracelet Stainless Steel Accessories Original and signed IWC Bracelet

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