IWC has made 2016 the year of the Pilots watch. We showed you the two limited edition pieces that IWC were releasing for SIHH 2016. IWC has taken the covers off the rest of the updated collection to be shown at SIHH 2016. We will start off with the updated Big Pilot and Pilot’s Watch Chronograph watches.
The designers at IWC have restored the historic triangle and the “9” to their established positions in the new Big Pilot (Ref. IW500912). The triangle with two dots sits below the chapter ring just like in the original model from the 1940s. The numerals appear a little bolder and the 5-minute markings slightly slimmer. The case is 46mm, made from stainless steel and is water resistant to 6 bar.
The new IWC Big Pilot Ref. IW500912
Cockpit instruments are well known for being simple and offering optimum legibility and the dial of the Big Pilot is based on this principle. An engraving of a Junkers Ju 52, graces the back of the Big Pilot’s Watch. Powering the watch is the IWC-manufactured 51111 self winding movement with 7 days of power reserve. A soft-iron inner cage that protects the movement against magnetic fields The Santoni straps are made of black calfskin and complement the watch nicely. With this Big Pilot’s Watch, IWC uses the calfskin strap produced by the shoe manufacturer for the first time ever.
An engraving of a Junkers Ju 52 is on the caseback of the IWC Big Pilot
Pilot’s Watch Chronograph
The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph has also received a few minor design changes. First the triple date window is now gone and replaced by a single one. We feel this looks much better. They have also chosen to omit the small 5-minute numerals on the outer chapter ring. The reason for the changes? To stick to the roots of Pilots watches which are clearly organized pieces, with excellent legibility no matter what the visibility.
The new IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph (Ref. IW377709) with calfskin leather strap.
The new Pilot’s Watch Chronograph has a 43mm stainless steel case. The self winding 79320-calibre chronograph movement functions as a stopwatch with aggregate timing up to 12 hours. With its soft-iron inner case, it is optimally shielded against the influence of external magnetic fields. The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph, which is water-resistant to 6 bar, is available with either a calfskin strap by Santoni (Ref. IW377709) or an elegant, newly designed stainless-steel bracelet (Ref. IW377710). Two-tone textile straps, inspired by the historic Nato straps, are now also additionally available for the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph.
The newly designed stainless-steel bracelet Ref. IW377710 IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph.
Both models just like the Big Pilot feature an engraving of a Junkers Ju 52 on the back.
An engraving of a Junkers Ju 52 is on the caseback.
We think the design changes to the new models are quite subtle, but make the watches better looking and we quite like the nostalgic touch with the triangle marking with two dots on the Big Pilot.
Pricing is as follows:
Big Pilot’s Watch Ref IW500912: $19,700 Singapore Dollars (Suggested Retail Price)
Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Ref IW377709: $7,650 (Suggested Retail Price)
Pilot’s Watch Chronograph with stainless steel bracelet Ref IW377710: $9,050 (Suggested Retail Price)
For more information please visit IWC
Technical Specifications
Big Pilots Watch REF. IW500912
FEATURES
Mechanical movement – Pellaton automatic winding – Power reserve display – Date display – Central
hacking seconds – Glucydur®*beryllium
alloy balance – Breguet spring – Soft-iron inner case for
protection against magnetic fields – Screw-in crown – Glass secured against displacement by drops
in air pressure – Special back engraving
MOVEMENT
IWC-manufactured calibre 51111
Frequency 21,600 A/h | 3 Hz
Jewels 42
Power reserve 7 days (168 h)
Winding Automatic
WATCH
Materials Stainless-steel case, black dial, black calfskin strap by Santoni,
stainless-steel folding clasp
Glass Sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
Water-resistant 6 bar
Diameter 46 mm
Height 16 mm
Pilot’s Watch Chronograph
FEATURES
Mechanical chronograph movement – Date and day display – Stopwatch function with hours, minutesand
seconds – Small hacking seconds – Soft-iron inner case for protection against magnetic
fields – Screw-in crown – Glass secured against displacement by drops in air pressure – Special back
engraving
MOVEMENT
Calibre 79320
Frequency 28,800 A/h | 4 Hz
Jewels 25
Power reserve 44 h
Winding Automatic
WATCH
Materials Ref. IW377709: Stainless-steel case, black dial, black calfskin strap
by Santoni, stainless-steel pin buckle
Ref. IW377710: Stainless-steel case, black dial, stainless-steel bracelet
with fine-adjustment clasp
Glass Sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
Water-resistant 6 bar
Diameter 43 mm
Height 15 mm
