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IWC’s April 2024 redesign gave the Portugieser Perpetual Calendar 44 a slimmer case ring, double box-glass sapphire crystals and newly finished dials, while retaining the IWC-manufactured caliber 52616 and its seven-day calendar architecture. The launch comprised four references in white gold and Armor Gold. This is a sourced product analysis; no first-hand wear impressions are claimed.
Which four Portugieser Perpetual Calendar 44 references launched in 2024?
IWC announced the four re-engineered models at Watches and Wonders Geneva on 9 April 2024. Their differences are primarily in case alloy, dial color, hands and appliques, and strap.
| Reference | Case and dial | Hands and appliques | Strap |
|---|---|---|---|
| IW503703 | 18-carat white gold; Horizon Blue | Rhodium-plated | Gradient light-blue Santoni calfskin |
| IW503704 | 18-carat white gold; Dune | Gold-plated | Black Santoni alligator leather |
| IW503702 | 18-carat Armor Gold; Obsidian black | Gold-plated | Black Santoni alligator leather |
| IW503701 | 18-carat Armor Gold; Silver Moon | Gold-plated | Brown Santoni alligator leather |
IWC says its Armor Gold has a harder microstructure and is more wear-resistant than conventional 5N gold. That is the manufacturer’s material comparison, not a result of independent durability testing. The launch announcement lists the variants but does not give prices for each reference. IWC’s 9 April 2024 launch announcement.
What changed in the case and dial?
Case profile and crystals
IWC describes a redesigned case with a slimmer case ring and double box-glass sapphire crystals at the front and back. The brand says this construction produces a more slender side profile. These are design claims from IWC; they do not establish how the watch feels on a wrist.
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Lacquered dial construction
The dials use 15 layers of transparent lacquer, which IWC says are fine-ground and polished to a high gloss. The calendar subdials are milled into the brass base and lacquer layer, while the appliques are mounted by hand. IWC also says it refined the dial graphics. The new finish and colorways distinguish this redesign visually, but the underlying calendar display remains familiar.
What does caliber 52616 do?
All four references use IWC-manufactured caliber 52616, an automatic movement with Pellaton winding, two barrels and a stated power reserve of 168 hours, or seven days. IWC lists 385 components and ceramic winding components, along with a solid-gold oscillating mass. For the IW503704 specifically, IWC’s UK product page gives a frequency of 4 Hz and 54 jewels in addition to the 385 components. IWC’s UK IW503704 product page.
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How does its perpetual calendar work—and when does it need adjustment?
The calendar shows the date, day, month, four-digit year and moon phase. IWC says the mechanism is programmed on a four-year cycle to accommodate differing month lengths and add February 29 every four years. That handles the ordinary leap-year pattern, but it does not automatically account for Gregorian century years in which a leap day is omitted. IWC therefore specifies a minor manual adjustment in such years—for example, 2100 or 2200.
This century correction is the important distinction from IWC’s separate Portugieser Eternal Calendar, introduced in 2024 with a secular calendar mechanism. The Perpetual Calendar 44 discussed here is not the Eternal Calendar, even though both belong to the Portugieser family and both address long-term calendarkeeping.
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- Silicone watch strap soft and dust-resistant , comes with a quality stainless steel buckle, which is made of stainless steel.
- Please measure the width of your watch lug before ordering. It is important that your watch's lug width is the exact width of the band you select.
- Softness is moderate, wear very comfortable,Compression molding, sturdy and ,Wearable strap/wrist strap,suitable for original watch.
- Comfortable Fit: Soft, skin - friendly rubber conforms to wrist curves. Multiple adjustment holes ensure a perfect fit for all wrist sizes, offering stable, non - tight wear.
- Easy to insert and remove,very suitable for your watch.
Double Moon indication
The Double Moon display represents the moon phase as seen in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. IWC claims that the display will deviate by one day from the moon’s orbit only after 577.5 years. That precision figure is the manufacturer’s stated specification, not an independently verified test result.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What are the size and price of IW503704?
IWC’s UK product page specifies the IW503704 at 44.4 mm in diameter and 15 mm high, with 5 bar water resistance and a 22 mm strap width. The same UK page displayed a price of £48,800 including VAT when accessed on 7 October 2026; it is a market-specific, time-sensitive listing, not a universal or permanent price.
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- Timeless styling that effortlessly takes you from work to play.
- Analog Month/Day/Date, Moonphase Indicator
- Two-Tone Stainless Steel
- Spherical Mineral Crystal
- 100 Meters Water Resistant and 5 Year Limited Warranty
For comparison, WatchTime’s 2024 coverage listed a $46,500 starting price in its market context and gave the watch’s height as 14.9 mm. IWC’s own reference-specific UK specification is 15 mm; the small height difference may reflect rounding or source convention. The two prices should not be read as like-for-like: they differ in date, market context and tax treatment. WatchTime’s 2024 coverage.
What the redesign changes—and what it does not
The 2024 update is a case-and-dial re-engineering, not a replacement of the calendar movement: the four references retain caliber 52616, its seven-day reserve and the conventional perpetual-calendar leap-century correction. The choice among them is therefore chiefly a matter of alloy, dial and strap preference. IWC’s published specifications and specialist coverage support those product details, but they do not substitute for a documented hands-on assessment of fit, comfort, legibility or finishing.
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