IWC’s Yacht Club chronograph sails with Orlebar Brown design.
Luxury watch brands love working with designers. Working with designers not only gives a different perspective but also manages to attract the attention of people who closely follow today's fashion codes. In collaboration with the English clothing brand Orlebar Brown, IWC salutes watch enthusiasts with the Portugieser Yacht Club Chronograph Edition "Orlebar Brown" model, featuring dark blue, white, and red details.
Orlebar Brown was founded in 2007 with the collaboration of photographer Adam Brown and Julia Simpson-Orlebar. The brand, which designed only men's swimming shorts, has become a specialist in different sports and 'smart casual' clothing as it adds fame to its reputation. One of the biggest features that distinguish Orlebar Brown swimming shorts from the others was that it has zippered and adjustable side fasteners designed like traditional men's pants. Besides, IWC and Orlebar Brown have designed a 'Capsule Collection' of holiday clothing to celebrate their partnership.
In early 2020, IWC introduced the third-generation Portugieser Yacht Chronograph with a different date display positioning, a larger case, and a new bracelet. The IWC x Orlebar Brown model is also is based on the Ref.3907. You will remember, Yacht Club Chronograph models were added to the Portugieser collection in 2010 and were presented with a flyback chronograph movement developed entirely by the brand. The biggest feature that distinguished these chronographs from the others was that the chronograph used a single sub-dial for hours and minutes.
Yacht Club models, which contain the most sportive models of the Portugieser collection, were designed to capture the spirit of the original 1939 Portugieser.
IWC Portugieser Yacht Club Chronograph Edition "Orlebar Brown" comes with a 44.6mm diameter stainless steel case. Both sides of the polished case have sapphire crystals with anti-reflection coating on both sides. The case shows resistance to water pressure up to 60 meters. There are chronograph pushers in the shape of a pontoon on the side of the Yacht Club models, on both sides of the winding crown located at 3 o'clock.
Portugieser Yacht Club chronographs came with the blue dial color before as well. However, this model is accompanied by a very dark "navy blue" color dial. The chronograph hour/minute counter at 12 o'clock shares the same color as the dial, with the number 12 and 60 to 10 detailed in bright red. The small seconds sub-dial, which hosts the date window, comes in white color with blue. Phosphorus is used in hour markers and rhodium-plated leaf-shaped hands, right next to the large numerals.
Another distinctive feature of the collaboration with Orlebar Brown is that it manifests itself in the new strap. The upper part of the rubber strap is made of textile, which looks like rope knitting.
Yacht Club Chronograph Edition "Orlebar Brown" is powered by the automatic Caliber 89361, which provides 68 hours of power reserve when fully wound. The stylish watch is available through IWC’s website with a price tag of 12,900 CHF.
