1995 IWC Portuguese Chono ref. 3714.

The Portuguese Chono was launched in 1995 and thanks to the clean dial layout and 40,9mm. timeless case design, the IWC Portuguese Chrono automatic became the most successful IWC watch ever produced and its my favorite modern Chronograph.

The first Portuguese dates back to 1939, when two Portuguese business men were looking for a wristwatch that could match the precision of a marine chronometer. IWC chose a pocket watch movement to allow crown placement at 3 o’clock. The watch, which measured 43mm, was enormous by standards of the day, but it got the job done.

International Watch Co., also known as IWC, is a luxury Swiss watch manufacturer located in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, and founded by American watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones in 1868.

In 1991 IWC director Gnter Blmlein founded the LMH Group with its headquarters in Schaffhausen. With a 100% stake in IWC, 60% in Jaeger leCoultre and 90% in the Saxony-based watchmaking company of A. Lange & Shone, the Group employed some 1440 persons.

In July 2000, LMH was acquired by Richemont, a Zug-based luxury goods group, for CHF 2.8 bn. Despite the takeover by Richemont, IWC was guaranteed that it would continue to be managed by the same executives from the LMH Group.