The new releases from Schaffhausen-based IWC are highly anticipated each year, and 2020 is no different. Most years, the Swiss brand trains its focus on revitalizing specific collections, and this year the popular Portugieser family is the one in the spotlight. We’ve previously reviewed the new pieces in the Portugieser Yacht Club sub-family; today we take a look at two high complications in the parent series, the Portugieser Tourbillon Rétrograde Chronograph (ref. IW3940) and Portugieser Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon (ref. IW5045).

As their model names imply, both timepieces use tourbillon movements and offer a retrograde chronograph and perpetual calendar, respectively. The references are available in limited quantities in rose gold and platinum, each produced with either a familiar silver or blue dial.
The Portugieser Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon has a 45-mm Portugieser case, with curved lugs and a relatively large crown. The dial’s outer edge features a railroad minute track recalling the marine chronometers that originally inspired the series, while applied Arabic numerals decorate most hour positions. Each of the dial’s four sectors hosts a different feature. The right-hand side features an analog date indicator as well as a display for the impressive 7-day power reserve. Opposite this we find a 9 o?clock analog day indicator, with IWC branding at its center and a display for the year slightly below it brushing the 8 o?clock mark. Tow...