Remember that unreleased IWC Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar Lake Tahoe Lewis Hamilton was caught wearing? Well, it’s out now!
Zach Blass- Lewis Hamilton was photographed wearing an unreleased white IWC watch at F1 Miami in May
- IWC today releases the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Top Gun Lake Tahoe
- It will be available at the beginning of July 2023
While I may be the New York City kid who has yet to get his driver’s licence, everyone else on the Time+Tide team are absolute Formula 1 fanatics. I confess I am no racing expert myself and have yet to listen to the many people imploring me to watch Drive to Survive on Netflix, but I’m certainly familiar with Lewis Hamilton. That is why it was quite surprising, or perhaps very strategic, that Lewis was provided a yet to be released watch to wear during Formula 1 Miami. With all eyes on Hamilton, and with such a huge crossover between racing and watch enthusiasts, it was inevitable that people were going to spot what was on his wrist.
While we constantly do watchspotting stories, 99% of the time these are watches that are already released. Since Miami at the beginning of May, and multiple times since, Hamilton has continually worn what appeared to be a perpetual calendar in a “Lake Tahoe” white ceramic case. This, of course, led to a ton of interest and speculation – a clear example of why ambassadorships can be so powerful. Was it a special piece just for Hamilton? Would it ever be offered to the public as well? Well, today IWC reveals that beginning next month the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Top Gun Lake Tahoe will be available for purchase.
The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Top Gun Lake Tahoe becomes the latest ceramic Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar to join the current standard catalogue – alongside the “Rodeo Drive”, “Mojave Desert”, and black Ceratanium models. Befitting of the Big Pilot name, its 46.5mm diameter is certainly not for the faint of wrist. But its larger size allows it to be arguably the most legible perpetual calendar watch on the market. There are so many indications at play here: a Southern and Northern hemisphere moon phase indication at 12′, small seconds and month indication at 9′, year indication just above the 7′ position, month indication at 6′, and both a date and power reserve indication at 3′. It is a lot to take in, but IWC specialises in legibility across their Pilot’s catalogue. Sure, no pilot actually needs a perpetual calendar. That being said, IWC refuses to let that be an excuse to compromise their expected high-bar for legible designs.
Exhibited through the sapphire caseback is the IWC-manufactured automatic calibre 52615. Even with all of its indications, the calibre offers a full seven days of power reserve on a full wind off the wrist. There is a certain user fragility associated with the perpetual calendar complication, one misstep by the owner can lead to a trip back to the manufacture for repair. But the 52615 continues the usage of the legendary Kurt Klaus perpetual calendar mechanism that allows the perpetual calendar complications to be adjusted via the crown rather than multiple case pushers. And all of the indications advance in synchronisation – therefore vastly reducing the risk of mis-setting the indications.
Ultimately, the watch is not for me due to my smaller wrist. It is, however, one of many watches that makes me wish I had a wrist big enough to pull it off. I have great respect for the Kurt Klaus perpetual calendar mechanism, as well as the clean dial aesthetic that is as crisp as the white ceramic it is encased in. So I am definitely a fan, even if its size is a bit intimidating for me. I cannot really fault this watch for what it is. It is a Big Pilot, so it is meant to be big.
IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Top Gun Lake Tahoe pricing and availability:
The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar TOP GUN Lake Tahoe will be available for purchase beginning in July 2023. Price: A$59,700
| Brand | IWC |
| Model | Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar TOP GUN Lake Tahoe |
| Case Dimensions | 46.5mm (D) x 15.6mm (T) |
| Case Material | White ceramic |
| Water Resistance | 60m (screw-down crown) |
| Dial | Black dial, black hands with white Super-LumiNova® |
| Crystal(s) | AR-coated sapphire crystal and exhibition caseback |
| Strap | White rubber strap, stainless steel folding clasp |
| Movement | IWC-manufactured automatic calibre 52615 |
| Power Reserve | 168 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds, perpetual calendar, power reserve indicator, moon phase |
| Availability | July 2023 |
| Price | A$59,700 |