Hello everyone, I am purewatches. Today we are going to talk about a “veteran’s new outfit” – IWC Portuguese Series Portugal VII.
When it comes to Portugal 7, old players know it well: it has always been dominated by the ZF factory, and the V5 version has not been updated since then, which can be called the “ceiling” in the replica circle. But recently, APS factory suddenly came out and launched its own new version of Puqi. What’s interesting is that many people don’t know that the movement source used by ZF is actually provided by APS’s mother factory AZ. This time APS decided to do its own watch adjustment. Does this mean that its “own son” will take over? Let’s take a good look today.
1. Renewed appearance: the real details are revealed
Let’s talk about the first impression first. The biggest change on the front of the new Portuguese 7 is that the number “1” in the kinetic energy display area is no longer embellished with red, but has been changed to a combination of two small dials + CP texture, which is more visually coordinated and layered.
As for the mirror, the new model uses a “pot lid type” sapphire glass with a retro flavor. The edges are slightly arched, and the light refraction has the charm of an old-fashioned watch. In comparison, the old flat mirror looks a bit “plain”.
The size data is also very eye-catching: the diameter of the watch is 42.3mm, and the thickness is controlled at 13mm. You must know that the thickness of the old Portuguese 7 is 14.1mm. This 1mm reduction will not only improve the fit on the wrist, especially those with thin wrists, it will obviously feel more comfortable.
In terms of color matching, the one I have this time is a rose gold and black plate. There is no color difference in reality and the texture is stable. The same style is also available in white-faced blue nails, blue-faced blue nails, white-faced gold needles, black-faced gold needles, and steel belt models. There are quite a lot of choices, and there is always one that can suit your aesthetics.
2. Disk details: Simplicity is the sense of luxury
Looking closely at the board, there are actually a lot of changes, but they are all restrained.
The time scale is accurate and without deviation, and the digital printing is clear and delicate. The top of the hour and minute hands is slightly upwardly curved, and combined with the quenching and bluing process, the light will have that “bright blue” high-end feel when the light turns around. The bottom bracket is solid polished and the details are in place.
The 6 o’clock calendar window is still a classic double trapezoid design, but the position of the “MARK” letters is slightly raised, making the upper and lower vision more symmetrical, making it comfortable for obsessive-compulsive patients. The small seconds dial on the right has also been subtracted, simplifying the original track scale into a three-dimensional stone carving scale, and removing the red-embellished 7-day chain logo, making the overall dial cleaner and more attractive.
To be honest, the new model and the old model look similar at first glance, but when compared together, you will find that the new model’s “subtractive design” is more in line with the current aesthetic trend-less is more.
3. Movement analysis: Dandong SL6000 improved version, stability is the key
As for the movement, let’s be honest.
APS’s new Portuguese 7 is equipped with a self-produced movement based on the improvement of Dandong SL6000. The layout of the splints and gears visible to the naked eye is basically the same as the movement previously used by ZF. After all, it has the same origin. The difference is that APS has made slight adjustments to the balance cock, changing it from the original “disconnected” to “one-piece”, which is more visually complete.
It should be reminded that the gear decoration part of this movement is still a “static display” and is not a true integrated linkage structure. But in terms of stability, Dandong SL6000 has been proven by the market for many years, and the failure rate is indeed very low. The problem of loose screws that occasionally occurred in the previous ZF version, APS also said that it has been optimized and used stronger screws, which can basically avoid the embarrassment of “the screws falling off and jamming the movement”.
In terms of power storage, APS claims that it can reach about 70 hours after improvement, which is improved from the 3 days of the ZF version. Of course, there is still a gap from the official nominal 7-day power, which we have to look at rationally. For daily wear, you can take off the watch on weekends and put it on on Monday, which is completely sufficient.
4. Workmanship: case and strap, extra points for comfort
The brushing on the side of the case is very straight and delicate, and the metallic luster is warm and non-glaring. The design of the back cover has also changed: the old model is screw-in, and the new model is fixed with 4 screws. This is one of the key reasons why the thickness can be reduced by 1mm.
As for the strap, the head end of the original strap is a bit hard, but the tail end is fairly soft. If you have high requirements for comfort, it is recommended to change to an alligator leather strap later, and the fit will be improved to a higher level. The buckle is easy to open and close, and the embossed fonts on the inside are three-dimensional and clear. After the yellow protective sticker is removed, the texture is immediately apparent.
The transparent bottom design makes the movement of the movement clear at a glance. The sapphire glass has high transparency, and the polished splint also has a good visual effect under the light. Although knowledgeable friends can see the “little thought” of the decorative panel, but for daily wear, who can stare at the back cover every day?
5. Summary of advantages and disadvantages: Who is suitable to buy this APS Portuguese 7?
Let’s talk about the advantages first: ✅ 13mm ultra-thin thickness, greatly improved wearing comfort ✅ The disk design is simpler, and the mirror texture of the retro pot lid is outstanding ✅ Dandong SL6000 movement is stable and reliable, with a power reserve of 70 hours. ✅ Multiple colors + steel belt models are available to meet different aesthetic needs ✅ The details are refined and the lettering, brushing and polishing are all online
Let’s talk about the points that need attention: ⚠️ The decorative part of the movement gear is not really linked, professional players can distinguish it ⚠️ The head end of the original strap is hard, if you want to pursue the ultimate comfort, it is recommended to change the leather ⚠️ There is still a gap between the power reserve and the original 7 days, so treat it rationally
Buying advice:
If you have been waiting for ZF to update Portugal 7, or are not satisfied with the thickness of the old model, then this new model of APS is indeed worth considering. With a thickness of 13mm + retro mirror surface + multiple color options, the texture and recognition are online for daily wear. Although the movement is not truly integrated, its stability has been proven by the market, its failure rate is low, and it saves worry.
Of course, if you are extremely detail-oriented and pursue a 1:1 movement linkage effect, you may need to wait a little longer or consider other options. But having said that, isn’t the point of playing with replica watches just to spend a small amount of money to wear them with a high-end feel? In the face of the tens of thousands of yuan-level texture, these subtle “imperfections” are actually completely acceptable.
A final reminder: There are many versions in the market, so be sure to confirm the seller’s qualifications before purchasing to avoid buying “boxed” or low-imitation versions. Only by looking for reliable channels can you play and wear comfortably.
Okay, that’s it for today’s review. If you have any other questions about the new APS Portuguese 7, please leave a message in the comment area, purewatches will reply to you one by one. See you next time!