Maximized view! Four new versions in sapphire box-glass.

There's a good reason why the legendary Kurt Klaus stars in many of IWC'S New Year's videos. Under his leadership in 1985, the watchmaker launched a perpetual calendar that can do a New Year's countdown with four digits on the watch dial.

That was when the innovative Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar was unveiled to the world — with calendar functions set by the winding crown instead of numerous pushers. Kurt Klaus earned IWC a title as the inventor of a new breed of perpetual calendar. The company has cemented this title with the novelties for 2024.

Four versions of the Portugieser Perpetual Calendar model were unveiled in one go at the Watches and Wonders trade show in Geneva. They showcase more than the company's achievements when it comes to complicated watch mechanics.

A fashionable dial composition is also displayed here, which demonstrates meticulous work with tone and modern materials. They offer four versions.

The watches with Horizon Blue and Dune dials have been given white-gold cases, while the versions with Obsidian and Silver Moon dials are framed with cases made of Armor Gold.

This alloy developed by IWC (75% pure gold) was unveiled 4 years ago as a variety of red gold that's harder and more wear-resistant. Fans of the Schaffhausen-based watch brand will already be familiar with the architecture of the counters: a similar dial design was used on perpetual calendars in the Big Pilot series.

But unlike the aviator's watch or earlier Portugieser Perpetual Calendar watches in 42-mm cases, the dial attracts extra attraction here — one of the factors that contribute to this impact is the double box-glass sapphire crystal.

In addition to the classic black and silver-plated dials, chilled-out sky blue and sandy shades have been chosen. IWC's experience working with the Pantone palette has probably had an influence here, although new tones like "IWC Woodland" and "IWC Lake Tahoe" developed with the respected color institute were intended for ceramic cases.

The case for the novelties measures 44.4 mm in diameter and 14.9 mm in height. These dimensions fit an IWC 52616 movement. The movement comprising 385 components provides a week of power reserve using two barrels.