2020 is the year of the Portugieser as IWC releases multiple updates and models in the line up. Another great addition is the 42mm Perpetual CalendarPerpetual Calendar A perpetual calendar is a complication in a mechanical watch that automatically adjusts for the different lengths of the months, including February, and leap years, and (almost) never requires manual adjustments. It has a mechanism that takes into account the different number of days in each month, including leap years, and automatically adjusts the date, day, month and year accordingly [Learn More]! In the past, the Perpetual Calendar has always been in the 44.2mm case and 14+mm tall with precious metal materials. The main reason for the large size is due to the large 52000 family movement with its 7 day power reserveRéserve de marche Also known as Power Reserve. A watch's power reserve refers to the amount of time a mechanical watch can run without being wound. The power reserve of a mechanical watch can vary depending on the size of the mainspring, the efficiency of the gear train, and the rate at which the mainspring releases energy. If a watch has a Power Reserve 'complication' it simply means that the status of the power reserve can be seen on the watch itself (either on the dial or movement side of the watch). [Learn More] and twin barrelBarrel The barrel is a cylindrical container that holds the mainspring. The barrel is connected to the winding mechanism. The winding mechanism rotates the barrel, which in turn winds the mainspring. [Learn More] .
The new models doesn’t have the 7 day power reserve but the caliberCaliber The caliber ('movement') is the heart and engine of a watch. It consists of a number of interconnected components that work together. Energy is transmitted through the gear train, to the escapement mechanism. The escapement mechanism releases this energy in a controlled manner. This drives the gear train, which ultimately rotates the hands of the watch and keeps time. [More Info] 82650 is no slouch with its 60 hour power reserve and pellaton system with ceramic pawl bearings.
The smaller movement also decreases the thickness of the watch from 14.9 to 13.8 while the case diameter shrinks to, as the name suggests, 42.4mm. Allowing this to be much more wearable watch on a daily basis and more fitting due to its more elegant design.
In addition to this, the watch is also unusual in that it doesn’t use a small seconds hand as with most perpetual calendars but instead, a central seconds hand. Another welcome change is the lack of the digital year but instead a leap year indicator in day display at 9. Gone are the double moon for north and south hemisphere but a single moon at 6. Despite this change, the moon disc is still accurate for only 1 day deviation after 577.5 years (!).
As mentioned previously, this new model comes with a stainless steel variant as well as gold cases.
The steel model retails for $22,900 while the gold models retails for 32,900 and will be available in authorize retailers and boutiques after June.
More info here