VIDEO: IWC introduces two new stealth Top Gun Ceratanium Pilot’s watches
Zach BlassToday we are highway-ing into the danger zone, with two new complicated IWC Top Gun Ceratanium pilot’s watches that will take your breath away. OK, enough Top Gun puns. Focus Zach. IWC has brought forth two new stealth Ceratanium references: the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Top Gun Ceratanium and the IWC Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Top Gun Ceratanium – the first Timezoner to be introduced in the innovative material.
Each of the two new watches leverage tactical black aesthetics, with matte black Ceratanium cases that blend the structural integrity of titanium with the scratch resistance afforded by ceramic.
IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Top Gun Ceratanium
The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Top Gun Ceratanium has a 46.2mm case (15.4mm thick) that offers 60 metres of water-resistance further secured by a large screw-down crown. The matte black dial has a grained texture and hosts a superbly laid out perpetual calendar display – framed by a grey outer minutes track, hour arabics and hour indices. At 12’ you have a dual moonphase display that depicts the moon from both the norther and southern hemispheres, at 9’ a running seconds register framed by a stepped day indicator, at 6’ a register indicating the current month, and at 3’ a power reserve indicator framed by a stepped date indicator. You’ll also find an aperture to the left of the register at 6’ that displays the current year. All of the hands are rendered in a tactical black colour, but the red-tipped hands are all tied to the perpetual calendar indications and the white SuperLuminova® filled hands are each tied to the time display and power reserve indication.
I may have buried a leading element of this watch: it is the first to debut an all-new case-matching bracelet made of Ceratanium, secured to the wrist via its twin-trigger folding clasp. The bracelet is approximately 30% lighter than its equivalents in stainless steel. The beauty of this perpetual calendar watch is its hassle-free system, which utilizes a single nightly switching impulse from the base movement to drive the perpetual calendar. Its mechanical programming automatically recognises different month lengths and leap years, which means it will require no correction until the year 2100. You’ll also be glad to know that the moonphase indication is so precise that it will only deviate by one day after 577.5 years – pretty darn incredible. Its IWC manufactured automatic caliber 52615 boasts seven days of power reserve thanks to its two barrels, and can be viewed beneath the tinted sapphire exhibition caseback.
IWC Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Top Gun Ceratanium
Next up, we have the IWC Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Top Gun Ceratanium – which, as I mentioned before, is the first Timezoner to be introduced in Ceratanium, as well as the first to be introduced into the Top Gun collection. It is a tad smaller than the new Perpetual Calendar, clocking in at 46mm in diameter with a thickness of 15.1mm. In terms of its depth rating, they are equally matched, with the Timezoner also rated to 60 metres, further secured by a large screw-down crown. Working from the outboard in on the black dial, you have a grey outer minutes track that frames a stepped central medallion which hosts hour arabics, a black on white date complication at 3’, and a 24 hour display at 12’.
The ingenious aspect of this watch is its bezel-tied worldtimer functionality. First you rotate the bezel until the triangle index at 12’ aligns with the location on the bezel that best matches your current time zone – and then proceed to set the current time and date via the crown. Once set, as you travel you simply rotate the bezel to the next desired time zone, and the hour hand, 24 hour display, and even the date will correct itself backwards and forwards in one hour increments to match your new location.
Of course, this is made possible thanks to its IWC manufactured automatic caliber 82760, also visible beneath a tinted sapphire caseback, which features 60 hours of power reserve, and like the Perpetual Calendar, a Pellaton winding system that is fitted with virtually wear-free ceramic components. The IWC Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Top Gun Ceratanium is paired with a black rubber strap that has a black textile upper to maintain the tactical aesthetic of the watch.
If you like either of these watches, I wouldn’t hesitate on making an inquiry. The Perpetual calendar will be limited to 150 pieces annually and the Timezoner limited to 500 pieces annually. And if you do purchase either watch, be sure to register it under the “My IWC” care program to benefit from a six-year extension to the standard two-year warranty.
2021 IWC Top Gun Ceratanium Pilot’s watches pricing and availability:
The IWC Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Top Gun Ceratanium is priced at $26,000 AUD and is limited to 500 pieces annually. The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Top Gun Ceratanium is priced at $66,800 AUD and is limited to 150 pieces annually.
For more information on these pieces head to IWC.
Made in partnership with IWC. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.