For the second Watches & Wonders held in Hong Kong, IWC has unveiled its new Portofino Midsize collection. The collection comprises of four different models, who together account for a whopping 20 new references from the manufacture, and is one of the most comprehensive launches of a new collection that we’ve seen to date. With the launch of this collection at Watches & Wonders, IWC has departed from its usual practice of revamping a single collection every year. We might just be looking at the beginning of a biannual release schedule from the manufacture.

According to IWC’s CEO Georges Kern, the new collection is targeted at customers with smaller wrists, and a throwback to Portofinos of the past – the very first Portofino was just 34mm across, after all. Note, however, that this is an additional collection, and will in no way replace the existing collection of Portofinos.The collection comprises of four different models, and the flagship model/reference is the Portofino Midsize Automatic Moonphase in white gold (Ref IW459004), as shown above. This particular timepiece has its bezels, lugs, and dial set with diamonds, and a lacquered dial that imparts a deep black that contrasts with them. The other references for this model have cases of red gold or stainless steel, and come with mother of pearl dials and diamonds on their bezels. The Portofino Midsize Automatic Moonphase is powered by IWC’s self-winding Calibre 35800 movement, which beats at 4Hz and runs for 42 hours on a full power reserve.The next model is the Automatic Day & Night (above). As its name suggests, this model has a GMT complication with an inbuilt day/night indicator, in the form of a bi-colour ring that’s set within the dial itself. Despite having four sweeping hands on the dial, the time can be read at a glance, as the GMT hand is noticeably shorter and blued, while the other three hands are silver in colour. The timepiece will come in either red gold or stainless steel, depending on the reference. A Calibre 35700 movement powers this timepiece and, like the 35800, runs at 4Hz with 42-hour power reserve.People who are looking for simplicity in their next watch would be well-advised to check out the Portofino Midsize Automatic and Portofino Midsize Automatic 40mm (the former, like the other two models above, clock in at 37mm). These minimalist 3 hand watches comes in either red gold or stainless steel, with your choice of plain or diamond-set bezels, and slate or silver dials. With a total of 13 references between them, there’s likely something for everyone.Lest we end up sounding like a catalogue, suffice it to say that strap options are aplenty for this new collection. Aside from alligator straps provided by shoemakers Santoni, IWC is also offering Milanese mesh bracelets in stainless steel or red gold on selected references.

As part of efforts to launch this new collection, IWC roped in several celebrities for a photoshoot in Portofino (where else?) in May earlier this year. They included double-Oscar winners Christoph Waltz and Cate Blanchett, Hollywood stars Emily Blunt, Ewan McGregor and Zhou Xun, and supermodels Adriana Lima and Karolina Kurkova. Peter Lindbergh was the photographer for the manufacture, in a collaboration that dates back to 2010.