IWC | PORTUGUESE SKELETON F.A JONES, REF 544206, LIMITED EDITION PINK GOLD SKELETONISED WRISTWATCH, CIRCA 2011

The skeletonized IWC Portuguese F.A. Jones is an ode to the history of the celebrated Manufacture. 

F.A. Jones refers to the founder of IWC, Mr. Florentine Ariosto Jones (1841-1916) who created the company in 1868.

The name Portuguese comes from the request received in 1939 from two Lisbon based dealers, Mrs. Rodrigues and Teixera who wanted a wristwatch with the accuracy of a marine chronometer. In order to achieve it, IWC created the oversized 41.5mm wristwatch Reference 325, nicknamed the "Portuguese". These early pieces used the calibre 74, originally made for pocket watches and later improved to become the calibre 98 and then 982 when it received an upgraded shock resistance system.

The calibre 98 was used in other important IWC models such as the 125th Anniversary edition in 1993 under the reference 5441.

To pay tribute to the original Portuguese and continue the lineage, IWC released in 2006 two limited editions of the model, using the calibre 98910 which is the skeletonized version of the 98. The watch was available either in pink gold, such as the present watch and in platinum. The skeletonized movement was fully decorated to the highest standards to make make this historically significant piece a true work of art. 

Presented with its original IWC guarantee and presentation case, this lot is a rare opportunity for a collector to acquire a superb interpretation of the iconic Portuguese.