Bokey TimeHello everyone, this is Bokey Watch Industry. Today, I’d like to share with you a special edition from ZF Factory: the IWC Portuguese Chronograph Series 150th Anniversary Special Edition (Portuguese Chronograph White Dial). This watch is the IW371602 transparent caseback limited edition officially launched by IWC in 2018 to commemorate the brand’s 150th anniversary. Compared with the previous Portuguese Chronograph models, this 150th anniversary special edition features a transparent caseback and a low-temperature lacquered dial with a texture similar to enamel. ZF Factory has replicated two color versions—blue and white. Today, we’ll focus on the white dial version to analyze ZF Factory’s craftsmanship and simulation accuracy for this anniversary Portuguese Chronograph transparent caseback model.
The IWC Schaffhausen Anniversary Collection IW371602 watch (“150th Anniversary” Special Edition) is priced at 59,200.
Review of ZF Factory’s Replica of IWC Portuguese Chronograph Series 150th Anniversary Special Edition Watch:
In terms of the front appearance, the ZF Anniversary Portuguese Chronograph features a lacquered dial created through exquisite lacquering craftsmanship with multiple layers of paint. As we know, lacquered dials are prone to bubbling if not properly processed. However, ZF Factory’s IWC Anniversary Portuguese Chronograph dial undergoes multiple layers of extremely thin lacquering, and the final product’s visual effect is fully comparable to that of an enamel dial.
The entire bezel is polished with a mirror finish, resulting in a very shiny appearance. The layout of the dial remains unchanged, still featuring Arabic numeral hour markers, blued steel willow-leaf shaped hands, and an inner minute track for the 60-minute scale. At the 3 o’clock position is a 60-second sub-dial for the hours, while the 12 o’clock position houses a 30-minute chronograph minute sub-dial.
The mirror of ZF Factory’s Anniversary Portuguese Chronograph uses double-sided anti-reflective convex sapphire glass, coated with a blue film. The coating process is primarily designed to enhance the glass’s transparency, making it easier to read the time.
Before undergoing the blue treatment, the blued steel hands are mirror-polished. Therefore, at different angles and under varying light conditions, the hands exhibit subtle changes in the depth of blue due to light reflection. Sometimes they appear as a calm dark blue, so deep that it almost looks black, and at other times they transform into a bright and clear azure blue.
The tails of the minute hand and the chronograph central seconds hand are also bent downward, mirroring the details of the authentic version. This design is primarily intended to improve time-reading accuracy. Many watch models feature such a design because there is a horizontal difference between the sapphire crystal mirror and the inner scale ring. The downward bending reduces reading errors by bringing the tip closer to the dial.
The Arabic numeral hour markers and scale dots are crafted using an oil pressure printing process, giving them a strong three-dimensional appearance and an oily sheen. Unlike those made by small factories, which are rather ordinary and lifeless.
The chronograph minute sub-dial is also concave, creating a more layered appearance.
The regular seconds sub-dial is designed in the same way as the chronograph minute sub-dial.
In terms of dimensions and thickness for ZF Factory’s IWC Portuguese Chronograph 150th Anniversary Special Edition:
The ZF Factory Anniversary Portuguese Chronograph features a 41mm stainless steel case, which is 0.1mm larger in diameter than the previous Portuguese Chronograph models. The actual measured thickness is 13.1mm, which matches the authentic version. This is because the genuine watch uses an in-house movement and a transparent caseback design, resulting in increased thickness. However, this slight increase in thickness has no impact on the wearing experience.
The case still adopts a three-piece design identical to the authentic version, consisting of a bezel, middle case, and case back. The bezel is primarily polished, while the middle case is brushed, which can effectively reduce the impact of accidental scratches on the overall appearance of the watch and is more convenient for later maintenance.
The stainless steel crown is also polished, engraved with the IWC Schaffhausen logo, and designed with anti-slip textures, offering a comfortable feel and convenient, quick adjustment. Above and below the crown are the chronograph start/pause and reset buttons, delivering a tactile operation experience that embodies the thrilling mechanical essence of the iconic chronograph function.
The crown adopts a relief craftsmanship, with patterns replicated 1:1 according to the authentic version, showing a full three-dimensional effect.
The anniversary version of the Portuguese Chronograph by ZF Factory features a transparent caseback design, which is also the first time the authentic brand has introduced a transparent caseback in the Portuguese Chronograph series. The caseback is engraved with the brand logo and product model information. The “3 BAR” marking indicates 30 meters of water resistance, making it suitable for daily activities such as handwashing and facewashing without any issues.
Through the sapphire crystal mirror, the internal movement can be seen. For this 150th anniversary Portuguese Chronograph by ZF Factory, the modified Dandong 7750 to CAL.69355 movement is still used, and the overall simulation accuracy of the movement can reach over 85%.
Regarding the pricing of ZF Factory’s old closed-caseback Portuguese Chronograph models and the new anniversary Portuguese Chronograph models:
Here’s an answer to the doubts of many watch enthusiasts: it mainly boils down to a cost issue. The new model features a transparent caseback design. From two aspects—the sapphire crystal on the caseback and the movement’s added bridge—we can see that ZF Factory has increased its costs. Therefore, the price is $150 higher than the old closed-caseback Portuguese Chronograph models.
The strap is made of glossy calf leather embossed with alligator skin patterns, and the overall texture is slightly stiff. Friends pursuing the ultimate experience can contact Bokey to upgrade to an alligator leather strap, thus eliminating the problem of the strap material being obviously fake at first glance.
In terms of the clasp, it has been changed from the buckle of the old Portuguese Chronograph model to a folding clasp of the same style as the Portuguese Seven. There is no need to elaborate too much on this clasp; just take a look at the details.
Here, Bokey has noticed a small detail: the end of the strap’s backside on ZF Factory’s Anniversary Portuguese Chronograph is also printed with a crown logo, which is the same as the authentic version. Now, many genuine IWC leather-strap models have such a crown logo on the back of their straps.
Regarding the wearing effect, Bokey’s wrist circumference is 15.5 cm, and the fit is moderate. It is recommended for watch enthusiasts with a wrist circumference of 15–17 cm to purchase this model.
