IWC Portuguese Ref. 3531 Automatic

IWC Portugieser Automatic Ref. 3531 – The refined classic for connoisseurs.

Some watches impress with their size. Others with their complications. The IWC Portugieser Automatic Ref. 3531 does something much rarer: it convinces with pure elegance and perfect proportions.

Produced in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Ref. 3531 is one of the most underrated models within the legendary Portugieser collection. With its modest 35 mm case diameter, slim profile, and timeless dial, this model offers everything that makes the Portugieser so beloved, but in an exceptionally refined execution.

What makes this reference special is the combination of classic Portugieser elements – the elegant Arabic numerals, feuille hands, and small seconds at 6 o’clock – with a size that is once again highly appreciated by collectors today. The thin bezel creates a strikingly large dial, making the watch wear larger than its dimensions suggest.

Among collectors, the Ref. 3531 is also known as the “Little Portugieser” or “Baby Portugieser”. The production period was relatively short, making this reference considerably rarer today than the larger Portugieser models that followed. It is precisely this exclusivity, combined with its timeless appeal, that makes the 3531 a beloved choice for the true enthusiast of classic watchmaking.