IWC Portugieser Chronograph Rattrapante

About This Watch

The IWC Portugieser Chronograph Rattrapante IW371215 in 18k red gold is one of the most technically impressive watches in IWC's current catalog, featuring a split-seconds (rattrapante) chronograph complication. The rattrapante mechanism uses two chronograph seconds hands stacked on top of each other — one can be stopped independently to record an intermediate time while the other continues running, allowing the measurement of two simultaneous events. The in-house caliber 76240 is a hand-wound movement, chosen because the additional complexity of the split-seconds mechanism leaves little room for an automatic winding rotor. The 41mm red gold case provides a luxurious setting befitting the complication's status in watchmaking hierarchy. The silver dial with its vertical bi-compax layout is clean and legible despite the mechanical complexity beneath. A slim pusher in the crown operates the rattrapante function, distinguished from the standard chronograph pushers at 2 and 4 o'clock. The split-seconds chronograph is one of the most challenging complications to manufacture, requiring extreme precision in the coupling and braking mechanisms. IWC's execution at this price point represents remarkable value in the world of haute horlogerie chronographs, where rattrapante models from competitors often cost significantly more.