IWC Portugieser 40mm or JLC Polaris Automatic?

[OldState]

I’m looking to purchase a new watch. Something that will can work with a suit but more time spent with business/smart casual attire. Looking to hear your opinions on design and of the brands

Here are the two I’m considering

 

[Phileas Fogg]

Both brands are solid. Of the two, given the needs you’ve described, I’d lean toward the IWC. It’s a bit cleaner and I think would work better with a suit.

The JLC is a bit too “sporty” and in my opinion.

At the price point you’re considering, have you considered anything from JLC’s Reverso series?

 

[OldState]

Both brands are solid. Of the two, given the needs you’ve described, I’d lean toward the IWC. It’s a bit cleaner and I think would work better with a suit.

The JLC is a bit too “sporty” and in my opinion.

At the price point you’re considering, have you considered anything from JLC’s Reverso series?

Thanks for the reply. I think the Reverso line is beautiful and I like several models. I just feel it’s a bit too dressy for what I’m looking for....even though it was designed as a sports watch ?
I’m going to check out a white version of the IWC today and compare it to the JLC. I’ve long been a big fan of JLC as a company and I think I really want to like this one more, but to be honest their aren’t many of their designs I like except for the Polaris and Reverso. I think this new smaller IWC Portugieser 40mm line is stunning....and boasts a newer in-house movement to boot.
Here it is in white/silver

 

[Phileas Fogg]

Thanks for the reply. I think the Reverso line is beautiful and I like several models. I just feel it’s a bit too dressy for what I’m looking for....even though it was designed as a sports watch ?
I’m going to check out a white version of the IWC today and compare it to the JLC. I’ve long been a big fan of JLC as a company and I think I really want to like this one more, but to be honest their aren’t many of their designs I like except for the Polaris and Reverso. I think this new smaller IWC Portugieser 40mm line is stunning....and boasts a newer in-house movement to boot.
Here it is in white/silver
View attachment 1504433

both are nice. I just think the IWC is able to straddle that line a bit better. The JLC Master ultra thin is nice too and around the same price point:

 

[mak1277]

I like both quite a bit. That said, I would also look at omega aqua terra, which I like better than both.

 

[OldState]

Blue or white on the IWC?

 

[9thsymph]

Both of those are fantastic choices! Flip a coin...

 

[Andy57]

The Portugieser is beautiful. Of your original two choices, I would opt for that one. I'm a big fan of blue dials and that IWC is stunning. JLC also makes a beautiful blue-dial version of the Master Ultra Thin, and, to my mind, is a classic dress watch.

Buy the watch that speaks to you. That's really all that matters.

 

[OldState]

The Portugieser is beautiful. Of your original two choices, I would opt for that one. I'm a big fan of blue dials and that IWC is stunning. JLC also makes a beautiful blue-dial version of the Master Ultra Thin, and, to my mind, is a classic dress watch.

Buy the watch that speaks to you. That's really all that matters.

Just looked at the white IWC and black Polaris on a bracelet. The JLC looks very casual and about the same as in pictures...though the bracelet in much nicer in person.

The white IWC looks a lot better in person! They only had a new Portugierser chrono in blue to compare. I was way in the blue camp but after seeing the white in person it’s a coin flip! The white is a lot more legible.
The size of both is absolutely perfect on my 7 1/2” wrist.

Decisions! Hoping my wife will approve a Speedmaster too since it’s our 15th anniversary ?

 

[greenhouse]

Just looked at the white IWC and black Polaris on a bracelet. The JLC looks very casual and about the same as in pictures...though the bracelet in much nicer in person.

The white IWC looks a lot better in person! They only had a new Portugierser chrono in blue to compare. I was way in the blue camp but after seeing the white in person it’s a coin flip! The white is a lot more legible.
The size of both is absolutely perfect on my 7 1/2” wrist.

Decisions! Hoping my wife will approve a Speedmaster too since it’s our 15th anniversary ?

Happy anniversary to you both.

(I'm also a Portugierser fan.)

 

[OldState]

The best most accurate rendition of the colors I could find. White still is a bit better in person. Blue is a tiny bit less impressive than seen here

 

[Scuppers]

both are nice. I just think the IWC is able to straddle that line a bit better. The JLC Master ultra thin is nice too and around the same price point:

 

[Thin White Duke]

Why not both??

You have two very nice options there. My own slight gripe is that George Red is often showing pics of his IWC 40 on the TWAT thread which makes the blue pop as a stunning bright blue. When I finally got round to seeing one in person I have to say I was a bit disappointed as it wasn’t nearly so bright in reality. See also VC Overseas.

 

[OldState]

I ended up with the Portugieser. When I first got interested in watches about 20 years ago, my eye was always drawn to pictures of the original. Also, a friend had a similar designed Dornbluth and Sonne that I thought was beautiful.
Changed the strap to brown to make it more casual. I have several other straps at this point as well to tone it down in that Im hardly in a suit much since Covid.

 

[Sam Hober]

IWC in blue is a great look!