May 22, 2021
NEW IWC PILOT’S WATCHES COLLECTION 2021
For 85 years, IWC has been engineering Pilot’s Watches tailored to meet the functional requirements and specific needs of professional pilots. Initially conceived as precise and reliable tools for navigation, they are celebrated nowadays for their iconic cockpit instrument design, their extreme robustness and high versatility.
Now, IWC is adding a new chapter to this success story: The Big Pilot’s Watch 43 (Ref. IW3293). An authentic interpretation of the iconic design, without either a date window or a power reserve display, it features a 43-millimetre stainless steel case for enhanced ergonomics and wear ability.
“The Big Pilot’s Watch perfectly embodies IWC’s extensive heritage and expertise in engineering rugged and reliable instruments tailored to meet the needs of elite aviators. It exemplifies how a purely functional design can transform into a cultural icon. Today, the Big Pilot’s Watch is not only one of the most recognised watch designs in the world but also an expression of a certain character and mindset,” explains Christoph Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen.
The Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL (Ref. IW357201) is the first IWC watch to feature the patented SPRIN-g PROTECT system. At the heart of this system is a cantilever spring that protects the movement against the g-forces generated by impacts. It cushions the movement, allowing it to keep moving independently of the case before bringing it to a stop more gently. The spring has been designed with a perfect form to evenly spread the stress across its length and width. Solving this challenge required advanced simulation tools and a painstaking design process. A key factor is also the choice of an advanced Bulk Metallic Glass (BMG) as a material. The sophisticated manufacturing process gives BMG an amorphous microstructure, with the result that it is significantly more elastic than conventional metals. An ultra-lightweight titanium casing ring further reduces the mass that the shock absorber must hold. Another innovation is a unique crown system with a winding stem that allows the movement to displace independently of the case.
In addition IWC is launching: the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 in a new case diameter of 41mm, two “Mojave Desert” Big Pilot’s Watches in sand coloured ceramic, and a new Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar.