The present Portofino reference 5251 is historically important in more ways than one. Not only was it the model that debuted the Portofino line in 1984 (and very different to the Portofino models that would follow) but most importantly it was bought by Günther Blümlein on 20 December 1991 – most certainly as a Christmas present.
Blümlein (1943-2001) is a man whose vision helped form the 21st century horological landscape as we know it. It has been said that without his stewardship, some of the industry’s greatest brands may not have been viable entities today. From an early age, he was an accomplished student of engineering and apprenticed with Diehl, a manufacturer of armaments, calculators and clocks. Following the apprenticeship, he was awarded a company scholarship to study mechanical engineering with a concentration in precision mechanics. He graduated in 1968 and was known not only for his technical skills but also as an excellent marketer, manager, and communicator. Blümlein entered the horological world at the precise moment the quartz crisis was wreaking havoc on brands - many having gone bankrupt having been unable to compete with these highly accurate, low-cost movements.
In an effort to challenge this new revolution, the VDO Adolf Schindling group head, Albert Keck, sought to put two Swiss brands and one Parisian brand under one entity, and while the acquisition of the Parisian firm never occurred, the group brought IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre and A. Lange & Söhne together under one management team. The name was later changed to Les Manufactures Horlogères, and in 1982 Blümlein was appointed managing director. Under his direction each brand was transformed, and today they are known for some of the most complicated and intriguing timepieces available. At IWC, Blümlein brought the IWC Grande Complication to market as well as working with Porsche to create titanium chronographs, and in a groundbreaking first, introduced the use of ceramic for a watch case.
This watch finds its genesis in the desire for Kurt Klaus to create a wristwatch using the historic 9251 pocket watch caliber. The result is incredibly avant garde for the time with a 46mm timepiece with a definitive vintage vibe but unheard of proportions and an elegant and subtle dial layout.