IWC Schaffhausen welcomes the Chinese Lunar New Year

The Portugieser Automatic 42 Year of the Horse features a burgundy dial, an automatic winding rotor shaped as a galloping horse, and a stainless-steel case. It is a limited edition of 500 pieces.

Kunaal Khemka

October 19, 2025

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IWC Schaffhausen welcomes the Chinese Lunar New Year

IWC Schaffhausen has unveiled the Portugieser Automatic 42 Year of the Horse. The horse is the next animal in the Chinese Zodiac, which begins on 17^th February 2026.

“A symbol of strength, energy and freedom, the horse is seen as a bringer of success and good fortune. People born in a Year of the Horse are said to be active, independent, and hardworking. They enjoy being in motion and often show a love for adventure. The Year of the Horse is, therefore, typically associated with progress, the rise of new opportunities and the courage to move forward and pursue new goals in life with confidence.”

Key Features

Image: The burgundy dial is *“inspired by the auspicious red tones widely used in Lunar New Year celebrations.”* The Portugieser Automatic 42 – with its horizontal subdial layout for small seconds and power reserve display – is an IWC icon. The dial features an abundance of details. The shade of burgundy on the snailed subdials is a tad lighter. Notice the galloping horse on the power reserve display. The golden frame surrounding the date window is a thoughtful aesthetic touch. The overall golden accents contrast well with the dial.

Functions and Operation

Hours and minutes. Small seconds with stop seconds function at 9 o’clock. Date at 6 o’clock. Power reserve display at 3 o’clock. Crown at 3 o’clock for winding, time-and date setting.

Dial

Burgundy-coloured dial. Gold-plated hands and applied gold Arabic numerals and hour-markers. Subdials feature a snailed pattern. Railway track hour and minute scale.

Movement

Image: The gold-plated galloping horse shaped automatic winding rotor is a signature feature of this watch. Calibre 52001 features the brand’s Pellaton automatic winding system. Its parts are *“made of virtually wear-free ceramic.”* It relies on the rotor’s movement in both directions to build a power reserve of 7 days using two barrels.

Powered by IWC-manufactured calibre 52001, an automatic movement that drives the hours, minutes, small seconds with stop seconds function, date, and power reserve display. Parts: 249. Jewels: 31. Frequency: 28,800 vph or 4 Hz. Power reserve: 168 hours or 7 days.

Case

Case is made from stainless steel. Diameter: 42.4 mm. Thickness: 13 mm. Dial side features a domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides. Caseback features a sapphire crystal. Water resistant up to 5 bar or approximately 50 metres. The watch is delivered with two straps: a black alligator leather strap and a burgundy alligator leather strap. Both are fitted to a folding clasp made from stainless steel.

Our Thoughts

The Portugieser Automatic 42 is an evolution of the Portugieser Automatic (Ref. 5000) from 2000. With its horizontal subdial layout for small seconds and power reserve display, it has gone on to become an IWC icon. (The 6 o’clock date window was not part of the original reference.)

It is an appropriate watch to celebrate the Year of the Horse. The burgundy dial with golden accents looks lovely, and the watch will surely find a fan following from a global audience – and not only those celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year.

Click here to read about IWC. CURATED., the brand’s “new historical watch programme,” and here to read about their strategic collaboration with Vast, an American company building “building next-generation space stations.”

Additional Details

Name: Portugieser Automatic 42 Year of the Horse

Reference: IW501709

Price: Swiss Franc (CHF) 13,000 / United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED) 56,800

Limited edition of 500 pieces.

Please visit the brand’s website for more information.