With two new references, the IWC TOP GUN Mirarmar collection is gearing up for the northern summer with a new blue shade developed by IWC and Pantone. The two references are either in steel or a matching blue ceramic.
Press Release information with commentary in italics.
New: More summery colours for the IWC Pilot’s Chronograph TOP GUN Miramar
The pricing of the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 TOP GUN Miramar is as follows:
- IW389409 (Full Ceramic): EUR 14,100 (incl tax) / SGD 18,200 (incl GST), limited edition of 1000 pieces
- IW388107 (Stainless Steel): EUR 7,800 (incl tax) / SGD 10,000 (incl GST).
Commentary
IWC joins the annual summer colours gang by adding a brand new colour co-developed with Pantone. The light blue shade is used in two new references. Both are in the Pilot’s Watch TOP GUN Miramar collection, and both are identical except for the case material. The limited edition version is with a ceramic case, Ref. IW389409 in a special blue shade for the case, dial and rubber strap.
And a stainless steel edition, Ref. IW388107 which is not limited, sports the same blue dial and strap. The other difference is the open caseback for the ceramic version versus closed one for the steel, and the blue outline on the hands in the ceramic versus rhodium plated. The lume, reportedly remains the same.
The full ceramic version is the same watch as the super successful Mojave Desert edition released in 2019, as well as the Lake Tahoe, in perpetual calendar released in 2023. In all three, the play is in the colour. The Mojave is a beige sand colour, the Tahoe is pure white. They also have two additional versions in Woodland Green and Oceana Blue, and now we have the new blue shade.
Pricing has jumped significantly since the 2019 Mojave Desert, which then retailed at just USD 8.2k, compared to the full ceramic blue novelty at more than USD 16k, doubling the price over 6 years. We think this is perhaps why IWC decided to release a less expensive steel version, which is still more than, but in line with the pricing as the Mojave Desert full ceramic one.
Release details
Adding a new ceramic color to its Colors of TOP GUN collection, IWC Schaffhausen introduces the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 TOP GUN Miramar. The watch features a ceramic case in a new color named TOP GUN Miramar, a light blue shade developed by IWC and Pantone®. The case is paired with a matching dial and rubber strap in the same hue. In addition, the Swiss luxury watch manufacturer launches a new version of the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 in stainless steel featuring a TOP GUN Miramar dial and rubber strap. Both chronographs are powered by the movements from the IWC-manufactured 69000 caliber family, offering a 46-hour power reserve.
Building on IWC’s extensive ceramic expertise, the Colors of TOP GUN collection comprises ceramic watches in different shades. Inspired by the world of naval aviation and developed in collaboration with Pantone®, these colors include Mojave Desert, Lake Tahoe, Woodland, Oceana and Jet Black. The Swiss luxury watch manufacturer now presents a new color called TOP GUN Miramar. It is inspired by the light blue t-shirts that TOPGUN instructors wear under their flight suits. Having gone through a rigorous selection and intensive training process, they are considered some of the most skilled pilots and instructors.
Limited to 1,000 pieces, the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 TOP GUN Miramar (Ref. IW389409) features a light blue ceramic case, complemented by a dial and a waterrepellent rubber strap in the same color. The blue hands are coated with Super-LumiNova® to enhance legibility in low-light conditions. The process of manufacturing a colored ceramic watch is a remarkable feat of material engineering. Zirconium oxide is mixed with different metallic oxides in a precisely defined ratio. As the color changes during the sintering process, numerous trials are needed to achieve exactly the desired result. One specific challenge was transferring the new ceramic color to other components of the watch, such as the dial and the rubber strap. Each part is made of materials with unique properties and requires specific manufacturing processes.
The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 (Ref. IW388117) marks the first time IWC Schaffhausen introduces a Pantone® color in a stainless steel watch. The chronograph features a 41-millimeter stainless steel case, combined with a TOP GUN Miramar blue dial and rubber strap. The rhodium-plated hands filled with Super-LumiNova® enhance legibility.
A HIGH-PRECISION CHRONOGRAPH MOVEMENT INSIDE
Both chronographs are powered by movements from the IWC-manufactured 69000 caliber family. These chronograph movements have been engineered with a focus on robustness, reliability and precision. The column-wheel design ensures that the switching sequences are clearly defined, providing a distinct tactile feedback when the buttons are pushed. The efficient double-pawl winding system generates a power reserve of 46 hours in the mainspring. A signature feature is the IWC-typical vertical dial layout, which places the stopped minutes at 12 o’clock for easy and intuitive reading. The stainless steel version includes an open case back, offering a view of the movement, while the ceramic variant has a titanium case back engraved with the iconic “TOPGUN” logo. Additionally, it is equipped with a soft-iron inner case that protects the movement from magnetic fields.
Both models feature the IWC-developed EasX-CHANGE® system. This innovative feature allows the wearer to easily remove the strap from the spring bar and replace it with another one by simply pressing a button integrated into the strap. As this system requires no tools, exchanging the strap or bracelet is quick and easy.
IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 TOP GUN Miramar Specifications
IW389409 (Full Ceramic): 41.9mm diameter x 15.5mm height * Miramar blue coloured ceramic case * titanium screw-in crown & pushers – sapphire crystal, secured against drops in air pressure * solid titanium caseback with TOP GUN logo * Miramar blue dial * Miramar blue outlined hands * white hour markers & SLN inserts – snailed subdials for small seconds, chronograph 30-minutes and 120hour counters * day-date window * Calibre IW69380, in-house automatic column-wheel chronograph * 28,800vph – 46h power reserve * soft-iron inner case * Miramar blue rubber strap with pin buckle *EasX-Change quick-release system
IW388107 (Stainless Steel): 41.9mm diameter x 15.5mm height – stainless steel case, brushed & polished * steel screw-in crown & pushers * sapphire crystal, secured against drops in air pressure * sapphire crystal caseback * Miramar blue dial * rhodium-plated hands * white hour markers & SLN inserts * snailed subdials for small seconds, chronograph 30-minutes and 120hour counters * day-date window * Calibre IW69385, in-house automatic column-wheel chronograph * 28,800vph * 46h power reserve * Miramar blue rubber strap with pin buckle -*EasX-Change quick-release system
