Luxury watchmaking meets resort chic menswear and modern sailing in this unique three-party collaboration
After relaunching the new Portugieser Yacht Club in a new case size of 44.6mm, and equipping said watch with its first bracelet ever, IWC wants to take things up a couple of notches.
This summer, the Schaffhausen watch company collaborated with tailored men’s swimwear label Orlebar Brown in a sleek and modern capsule collection.
Espousing the classic Orlebar Brown tailored approach to men’s resort wear, this nine-piece collection is designed for the dapper skipper.
If you’re been on the lookout for smart yet comfortable outfits to wear on board a yacht – or just to lounge by the poolside in style – check out the full collection available online here. No Hawaiian shirts and elastic-banded shorts, we promise.
“Just like the Portugieser Yacht Club Chronograph, our collection combines timeless elegance and a love of adventure. During the design process, we drew inspiration from IWC’s Portugieser, a watch family that is traditionally associated with the world of water, sailing and navigation,” explains Adam Brown, founder of Orlebar Brown.
He continues, “Our collection is intended for men who successfully navigate through life, and the range supports the dynamic lifestyle of sailors, adventurers and explorers with good design, reliable functionality and supreme style.”
Instead, think crisp blue and white linen shirts, soft silk blend polo shirts, light grey Merino wool jumpers… and of course the Orlebar Brown signature tailored fit shorts in a nautical colour palette.
One standout piece is the Bulldog mid-length shorts featuring a photographic print of a sailboat cutting through the waters of picturesque Porto Rotonde, Sardinia. Only, it’s no ordinary sailboat.
Anchors aweigh
It’s the Solaris 55 Double Moon customised by the great Italian boating company exclusively for IWC. That name, Double Moon, is a discreet nod to IWC’s unique double moon phase perpetual calendar found in the Portugieser high complications.
Aligned with the IWC Portugieser Yacht Club and the Orlebar Brown clothing designs, the Solaris 55 Double Moon is also dressed in mostly dark blue and white. You’ll see lots of leather trimmings as well which are inspired by the calf leather straps used in boutique edition models.
The cabin interior has been outfitted in colour-coordinated Orlebar Brown textiles while IWC naturally provided the Portugieser style deck clock and weather station.
“It was an exceptional project in every respect, and we are all very proud of the result. In an extraordinary and tangible way, this yacht embodies the passion for craftsmanship and design that is lived every day both at Solaris Yachts and IWC,” explains Fabrizio de Falco, product manager at Solaris Yachts.
Timeless style
All of these wouldn’t be complete without a special edition timepiece, so IWC delivers the Portugieser Yacht Club Chronograph Edition Orlebar Brown.
Christoph Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen, said: “IWC and Orlebar Brown are united by the passion they feel every day for craftsmanship, innovation and quality. Orlebar Brown has reinvented sporty, elegant leisurewear and has proven with its unique, tailored approach that men can also look good in casual outfits.
“The company is one of the most innovative in its sector and continues to set high standards when it comes to comfort, quality and functionality.”
So here we have a stainless steel case paired with a marine blue dial. Orlebar Brown founder Adam Brown is particularly fond of contrasts and crisp lines, hence the contrasting 60-second sub-dial and light touches of red.
Another key feature in this model is its strap (blue rubber with textile inlay) which uses a co-branded side-fastener buckle found on all Orlebar Brown swim shorts.
Available online here, the IWC x Orlebar Brown collection is ideal for that big year-end staycation, or a boat trip out to these nearby private islands with the whole family.
