IWC Portuguese F.A. Jones IW544203 2009 [Preowned]

Overview 

The IWC Portuguese F.A. Jones reference IW544203 is a direct and profound tribute to the visionary who founded the International Watch Company: Florentine Ariosto Jones. As a limited series of 3000 pieces introduced in the early 2000s, this timepiece captures the spirit of IWC’s heritage, blending 19th-century American ambition with advanced Swiss craftsmanship. Its design, characterized by a large case and richly decorated movement, directly harks back to classical pocket watches—the very foundation upon which F.A. Jones built the brand.

Housed in a refined 43mm stainless steel case, the watch features a beautifully restrained white lacquer dial that evokes the look of classic enamel. It is marked by elegant, elongated Arabic numerals, a railway-style minute track, and traditional leaf-shaped blued hands. The dial carries a nostalgic touch, signed “F.A.Jones” in cursive script at 12 o’clock. The sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock balances the composition, preserving the clean, symmetrical aesthetic that defined IWC’s earliest wristwatches.

The true highlight of the IW544203 is the manually-wound Calibre 98290, specially constructed in the spirit of F.A. Jones’ original pocket watch movements. Visible through the sapphire caseback, the movement showcases traditional traits rarely found in modern watchmaking: a three-quarter plate, a large balance wheel, and the highly recognizable, iconic Jones arrow-shaped regulator. The meticulous finishing—including blued screws and Geneva stripes—makes this movement a technical and visual link to the past.

The IWC Portuguese F.A. Jones is far more than a commemorative edition; it is a piece of horological storytelling. With its restrained elegance, historically accurate movement architecture, and deep ties to IWC’s founding ideals, the IW544203 is a collector’s watch through and through. Now discontinued and increasingly sought after, it represents a rare intersection of classical watchmaking, thoughtful tribute, and mechanical purity.

Specifications

Condition

Preowned, Excellent Condition, Complete Original Set with Box and Papers dated 2009.
Strap is unworn original IWC strap.

Warranty

1 year warranty from SCW.