Jon Bernthal is yet another actor to sport this IWC reference on the red carpet…

Zach Blass

Look, I wish dress watches would get more attention today. The marketplace, and our wrists for that matter, are saturated with sports and tool watches. When I try to convince people to look for a classic dress watch to add to their collection, I ask them but what about a watch for when you find yourself in formalwear? Are you really going to wear your sports watch then? Admittedly, it is not the strongest argument. There are definitely sporty watches that can also walk the tightrope and lean into the formal and elegant side for sure. At this years SAG Awards, actor Jon Bernthal followed in the footsteps of another actor we have mentioned on the site – wearing an IWC Portugieser Chronograph ref. IW371610 on the red carpet.

We last spotted the watch on Adrien Brody’s wrist at the Tribeca Film Festival, and I argued the watch, which has tool heritage, really suited his wardrobe. Like the watch, his outfit was styled yet smart – it wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine Brody on a yacht wearing this exact getup. There is a casual flair he has got going on, yet he still exudes a sense of sophistication as well. As I said before, both his wardrobe and watch blend the lines between practicality and elegance.

Jon Bernthal, on the other hand, donned a full-on tuxedo and bowtie at the SAG Awards. So this is an entirely different thought experiment in regard to sporty watches with formal wear. Does it work? Does it not work? I think it does. The Portugieser is a prime example of a sporty watch that can be dressed up, because its origins are rooted in being a gentleman’s tool. By blending reliable technical functionality, with a precious 18K 5N gold case and rich slate sunburst dial, it becomes equally as fashionable as it is functional. Its 41mm diameter and almost bezel-less design creates an easy-to-read chronometric timer, but design cues such as its slender feuille hands bring a greater sense of class.

It was an elegant solution, originally presented in 1939, due to demand for a marine-deck chronometer experience that could be translated into a wristwatch. It was oversized for its time – a rather sporty characteristic – but still every bit as elegant as its more compact peers and the watch proved to be a success with gentlemen overseeing docks and other nautical prospects. Legibility and accuracy are the two central pillars of the Portugieser line, and over the years IWC has changed very little of its winning formula.

Inside the sporty-elegant chronograph ticks the IWC-manufacture calibre 69355, a column wheel chronograph with 46 hours of power reserve. Beneath the sapphire exhibition caseback you can see finely executed embellishments, including circular Côtes de Genève and perlage.

IWC Portugieser Chronograph ref. IW371610 pricing and availability:

The IWC Portugieser Chronograph ref. IW371610 is available for purchase via IWC and Authorized Dealers. Price: $18,400 USD