In the field of replica watches, the IWC Portuguese Chronograph series (“Portugal Chronograph” for short) has long occupied a popular seat among formal sports-style watches with its simple and elegant design and practical timing functions. In the early years, the ZF factory’s craftsmanship was the most mature for the close-bottomed Portuguese watches. However, players who pursue “transparent mechanical beauty” once faced problems such as insufficient movement restoration and excessive thickness. It was not until recently that the APS factory launched a new version of the Portuguese watch with a transparent bottom equipped with the 69355 integrated movement, which truly made “transparent without compromise” possible. Today, we will objectively dismantle this watch, which many advanced watch friends call “the answer to the through-bottom Portuguese watch” from three dimensions: appearance texture, movement structure, and wearing details.
Appearance: Classic white and blue color scheme, details can withstand magnification and scrutiny The watch continues the iconic white dial and blue needle design language of Portuguese watches. The sapphire mirror is treated with anti-glare blue coating, which is not easy to reflect under strong light, making it clear and comfortable to read. The hands and scales adopt the traditional blue process. When the light angle changes, the hands will show a transition from dark gray, navy blue to jet black. This is essentially different from the single purple floodlight of cheap plastic hands. It is as deep as the sea in direct light, and is calm and restrained in dark light. The optical performance is highly close to the original.
The functional layout is rigorous: the chronograph minute hand cumulative dial is at 12 o’clock, the independent small seconds hand is at 6 o’clock, and the longest thin hand in the center is the chronograph second hand (normally stationary, press the upper button to start), and the functional logic is completely synchronized with the original. The small chronograph dial adopts a sunken three-dimensional design. The surface of the dial is decorated with fine radial texture, and the layering between light and shadow is outstanding, avoiding the monotony of flat printing.
Size and wear: 13.2mm ultra-thin control, fits the wrist without being bulky Thickness is the core pain point of transparent bottom models. The official thickness of the original Portuguese gauge is 13.1mm. APS uses the compact structure of the 69355 integrated movement to accurately control the thickness of the finished product to 13.2mm, with almost no difference. In contrast, the Dandong 7750 modification solution requires the installation of splints, and the thickness is generally 14-15mm, making it easy to appear bulky when worn. The watch case offers both steel strap and leather strap options, and the quick-detach lug design supports bare-hand replacement, allowing one-click switching between commuting, formal wear, and leisure scenes.
The buckle adopts a bilateral push-type structure, and the IWC logo is presented with a deep carving process, which has a strong three-dimensional effect and is not easy to wear. The engraving on the inside is clear, and the four-rod linkage design greatly reduces the probability of jamming compared to the common two-rod/single-rod structure. The smoothness of opening and closing and long-term durability are closer to the original experience.
Movement core: 69355 integrated movement, a “reassurance pill” for gamers. This is the soul of the transparent bottom model. Previously, most Portuguese watches on the market were modified with the Dandong 7750 movement. There were two major flaws: first, the balance wheel was located at 11 o’clock, which was obviously inconsistent with the original 7 o’clock position, and knowledgeable players could distinguish it at a glance; second, plywood needed to be installed to simulate the original deck, resulting in increased thickness and compromised gear linkage.
The 69355 integrated movement equipped by APS this time is highly synchronized with the original, from the balance wheel position, column wheel system to gear layout. Through the sapphire bottom cover, the movement’s fish-scale polishing, chamfering, and engraving clarity can all stand up to magnified observation. More importantly, the stability is improved: the integrated structure reduces the gear engagement error caused by modification, the timing function starts and stops more smoothly, and the failure rate of long-term wear is significantly lower than the modification solution, truly achieving “the bottom is exposed and the details are dared to be seen”.
Shopping advice: Transparent bottom vs dense bottom, how to choose according to your needs?
- If you prefer transparent mechanical aesthetics and have high requirements for movement restoration and thickness control, APS’s 69355 integrated movement version deserves priority;
- If you value cost-effectiveness more and are not obsessed with transparent bottoms, the old ZF version with dense bottoms is still a safe choice;
- Note: Due to the higher R&D and production costs of integrated movements, the market price of transparent models will be slightly higher than that of dense models. However, considering the thickness control, stability and visual integrity it brings, this premium is worth the money for advanced players.
Conclusion The progress of replica watches has never been simply about “resemblance”, but constantly approaching the original in terms of detailed logic, wearing experience and long-term reliability. The APS transparent bottom Portuguese watch is equipped with the 69355 integrated movement, which not only solves the flaw such as balance wheel position and thickness control, but also sets a new benchmark in movement stability. If you are looking for a Portuguese watch that can be viewed through the eyes, is worry-free for daily wear, and whose details can withstand scrutiny, this watch may be the answer you are waiting for.