IWC’s Pilot’s Watch line-up gets four new additions
Fergus Nash- For Watches & Wonders 2023, IWC have introduced three new references of IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41.
- Among the new trio are new cases in Oceana blue ceramic and 18k 5N gold.
- The Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar is also now available with a racing green dial.
IWC releasing more variety of Pilot’s Watches should never come as a surprise, but a drop of four new references will always be worth getting excited over. A trio of watches expand the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 collection, continuing to cover a wide range of tastes as the pinnacle of luxury flieger chronographs. Additionally, the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar has been given an emerald update.
Utility is one of the main words which come to mind when analysing the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41, as it appears that every aspect of its design contributes towards punchy legibility as well as wearability. The Arabic numerals are printed with crisp contrast at an eye-friendly size, with the iconic triangle marker at 12 o’clock providing you with luminous orientation after dark. The asymmetrical chronograph subdials use bold sword hands to point to their respective tracks, and the day/date display gives you all of the information you need at a glance. The 41mm diameter may not make for the most compact case ever with a lug-to-lug length of 50.8mm, but it’s a great compromise between the legendary plus-size cases of military Pilot’s Watches and modern-day comfort.
Utility aside, the other main boon of the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 is its aesthetic modularity, being able to cover huge stylistic grounds by simply changing a dial colour here or a case material there. For the first new release of IWC’s Watches & Wonders 2023 batch, the Chronograph 41 takes on a look of lavish splendour in 18k rose gold for the first time. The blend of 5N gold with its coppery tones is paired with an emerald green sunburst dial and a matching rubber strap, playing into its sporty capabilities and 100m water resistance. Should you want to change the strap and dress it back up, the 20mm lug width and IWC’s EasX-CHANGE system should make for an easy swap.
Last year saw the inaugural references for IWC’s ‘The Colours of TOP GUN’ collection in Lake Tahoe white and Woodland green, and now we’re introduced to two more. The IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 TOP GUN takes its military roots much more seriously than its civilian-oriented counterpart, so you shouldn’t be expecting too much in terms of whimsical or summer-fun colours. The ceramic cases, which are somewhat sneakily upsized to 41.9mm in diameter, are now available in Jet black for a versatile and stealthy look or Oceana blue, inspired by the U.S. Navy’s work overalls. Both are paired with rubber straps, but the Oceana model also has a denim-style inlay.
The fourth model isn’t particularly connected with the others, although it does feature another green dial like the Chronograph 41. The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar has its origins in the 1980s with legendary designer Kurt Klaus, now powered by the in-house calibre 52615 that covers a moonphase, day, date, month, year, leap year, and a mammoth 7-day power reserve. The stainless steel case brings out the lighter tones of the racing green dial, making for a sporty and sophisticated behemoth at 46.2mm on-wrist.
The new IWC Pilot’s Watches pricing and availability:
The new IWC Pilot’s Watches are now available from IWC’s website and select boutiques. Price: AU$13,500 (TOP GUN) / AU$17,300 (TOP GUN “OCEANA”) / AU$33,400 (CHRONOGRAPH 41 GOLD) / AU$49,500 (PERPETUAL CALENDAR)
| Brand | IWC |
| Model | Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 TOP GUN Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar |
| Case Dimensions | 41.1mm x 14.6mm (Chronograph 41) 41.9mm x 15.5mm (TOP GUN) 46.2mm x 15.4mm (Perpetual Calendar) |
| Case Material | 18k 5N gold (Chronograph 41) Ceramic (TOP GUN) Stainless steel (Perpetual Calendar) |
| Water Resistance | 100m (Chronograph 41) 100m (TOP GUN) 60m (Perpetual Calendar) |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire |
| Dial | Green (Chronograph 41) Jet black or Oceana blue (TOP GUN) Green (Perpetual Calendar) |
| Strap | Rubber |
| Movement | 69385 (Chronograph 41) 69380 (TOP GUN) 52615 (Perpetual Calendar) |
| Power Reserve | 46 hours (Chronograph 41) 48 hours (TOP GUN) 168 hours (Perpetual Calendar) |
| Availability | Available now |
| Price | AU$13,500 (TOP GUN) AU$17,300 (TOP GUN “Oceana”) AU$33,400 (Chronograph 41) AU$49,500 (Perpetual Calendar) |