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#Kixntix: A limited edition IWC Pilot’s Watch 41 from Mr Porter meets Puma’s street-tough suede #Kixntix: A limited edition IWC Pilot’s Watch 41 from Mr Porter meets Puma’s street-tough suede

#Kixntix: A limited edition IWC Pilot’s Watch 41 from Mr Porter meets Puma’s street-tough suede

Thor Svaboe

Having buttressed their online fashion offering with an impressive collection of fine watches, Mr Porter has become a real force to be reckoned with over the last decade. To celebrate their 10th birthday, they’ve collaborated with IWC on a damn tempting version of their Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41, a piece that delivers superb legibility at a relatively compact size. 

This 10-year Anniversary model for Mr Porter is noticeable for me as I love suede watch straps. There is something appealing about the classic pilot strap of IWC being re-imagined with the strokeability of black suede. As it turns out, the strap is actually made of Alcantara, a similar but tougher fabric used for everything from M-Sport steering wheels to Italian designer chairs. That muted dark strap works as a soft contrast to the lustrous hue of the 41mm bronze case.

mr Porter

Ergonomics are in place with the dynamic sweep of case and slender lugs, but there’s a battle-tough look in the non-bevelled case and bead-blasted bronze. This is a bronze that, more than any other material, will take on the look of your own adventures over time. And those adventures could come in any shape or form given the versatility of that goldilocks case size.

mr porter

The watch itself presents a gold-infused, classic IWC pilot’s watch dial, with a particular charm in the contrast of the rough textured black juxtaposed to the yellow bronze alloy that adds warmth and depth to the intricate dial. As expected the Arabic numerals are a lesson in clarity as are the wide, printed baton indices. But this watch has a party trick up its sleeve. Aside from the quadrant markers, Super-Luminova is only used on the number 10 to commemorate Mr Porter’s special anniversary.

mr Porter

The mechanical details remain the same as the luscious green and blue dial models – the 69385 Caliber offers a solid column-wheel chronograph for hours, minutes and seconds, with a graphically sharp day-date display at 3 o’clock. The bronze 41 mm case has a screw-in crown, and to avoid bronze material exposure to the skin, a titanium case-back is used, unlike the sapphire case backs on the other 41mm models.  The depth rating is 60m, but this is meant to fly not dive.

Between that soft blackness, the dial texture and those touches of gold-like bronze, this watch has me utterly smitten. But how can we match it with some kicks to maintain a commensurate level of elegance and versatility?

Meet the evergreen Puma Suede in a soft black to match the strap of the IWC, while the small pops of the Puma logo on the side and rear serve as an additional tie-in. Admittedly, this is not a hot drop, but it’s a sneaker that should be a staple of any man’s wardrobe, and I might admit to having a couple of pairs already.

With the innate comfort of more than 40 years of evolution, the round-toed Puma Suede sneaker will work with even a more formal chino through the colour matched black sole, and how is it possible not to love those discreet pops of gold? And at this price, even if you can only stretch to a G-Shock at the moment, they’re still a damn cool pair of timeless kicks.

The new IWC Pilot’s Watch 41 retails for $ 7,100 USD directly from Mr Porter here

The Puma Suede retails at around 70USD from outlets like JD Sports here