IWC Portuguese Perpetual Calendar II Ref. 5022-18

TonyR · 2018-08-01T15:53:06Z

Explore IWC Portuguese Perpetual Calendar II Ref. 5022-18 in white gold. TonyR shares ownership insights, dial nuances, and community strap debates.

TonyR

WPS member · IWC forum

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TonyR shares his excitement about acquiring the IWC Portuguese Perpetual Calendar II Ref. 5022-18 in white gold, a watch that has been on his radar for a decade. This post offers a look at a specific IWC reference from what TonyR considers the brand's 'heyday,' providing valuable context for collectors interested in IWC's design evolution and historical models. His personal reflections on its wearability and aesthetic details offer a nuanced perspective on this significant timepiece.

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The Portuguese Perpetual calendar II ref 5022-18 in white gold. This watch has been on my list ever since I sold my rose gold 5001 around a decade ago, I really missed owning that piece shortly after I foolishly sold it! In any event this is the 42 mm version of their perpetual which fits my wrist better than the current 44mm perpetual's. Also, these 5022's were produced during IWC's heyday (atleast in my mind!) from 2006 to 2010. That was right before/around the time they started super sizing everything or totally changing the looks on some of their lines, so staring down at this piece brings back good memories.

The Adroise dial is really neat looking, it changes colors quite a bit depending on the angle and the lighting........

I will have to get used to the thickness of the case. Its 15.5 mm's thick so it feels kind of tuna can-ish but surprisingly the watch is a lot lighter than I thought. It's very comfortable on the wrist.

The only small negative I have so far is the strap color. I always wondered why IWC choose this brown color, I ordered a black strap which I think will contrast even better against the Adroise dial. Anyway that's very minor! She'll fit in real well next to the other perpetual's!!! Tony

Key Points from the Discussion

The 42mm case size of the Ref. 5022 is considered ideal for this watch, fitting better than the current 44mm perpetual calendar models.
The original brown strap color is a common point of contention, with many collectors preferring a black or even lighter greyscale strap to better complement the ardoise dial.
The Ref. 5001, a predecessor to the 5022, is considered IWC's signature piece by some, highlighting its enduring appeal and classic design.
The ardoise dial is highly praised for its dynamic color-changing properties under different lighting conditions.
Despite its 15.5mm thickness, the watch is surprisingly light and comfortable on the wrist.
The legibility of the perpetual calendar display, with all information clearly presented and no 'stubby hands,' is a notable design strength.
The IWC Portuguese Perpetual Calendar II offers a distinct set of complications, such as displaying the full year, differentiating it from other perpetual calendars like those from Glashütte Original or Blancpain.
A satin strap is suggested as an alternative, drawing a comparison to its appearance on a white gold Portofino from the same era.

The Discussion

5980

Aug 1, 2018

Congratulations TonyR. She's a big piece, but you wear it well.

I totally agree on the strap. No idea why IWC paired that beautiful dial with a rich brown. I think your black will be sublime, and I even think you could pull off lighter greyscale variants with that dial and those applied numerals. Enjoy!

TonyR

Aug 1, 2018

Thanks, I was thinking a dark grayish strap would work very well too........

I guess I'll start with black since I already ordered one then go from there! Tony

rnaden

Aug 1, 2018

Congratulations!

I think this IWC complements your other very nice watches in the box too....sitting next to the GO shows the elegance contrasting with utilitarian.

TonyR

Aug 2, 2018

Thanks Richard.......

Each perpetual does at least 1 thing different. The GO has a leap year, the IWC shows the year, and the Blancpain has a split second, flyback chronograph.

vitalsigns

Aug 1, 2018

Great piece. My favorite of the IWC perpetual calendars.

Personally, I love the strap; so rich and fetching with the gray dial. Cheers, John

TonyR

Aug 2, 2018

Thanks John, the only IWC that I like a little better.......

Is the perpetual that Nilomis has with the all blue dial and the double moonphase. The one I have is a very close second!