IWC Schaffhausen adds 4 new models to their super successful Pilot’s Watch collection. Far away from the conventional IWC Pilots watches we’ve seen so far, these babies do an extremely good job in delivering a tool watch with a handsome, playful twist.
First up, The Big Pilot’s Watch Annual Calendar Edition “Antoine de Saint Exupéry”. This is the latest special edition created in honour of the French pilot and author. The watch is limited is limited to 250 pieces and offered in 18-carat red gold with a brown dial and gold-plated hands (Ref. IW502706).
The tobacco brown dial and the brown calfskin strap with decorative white stitching are reminiscent of the pilot suits from the era of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The annual calendar displays the month, date and day in three separate windows and only requires adjustment once a year, at the end of February. The IWC-manufactured calibre 52850 boasts a Pellaton winding system with components in virtually wear-free ceramic and generates a 7-day power reserve in two barrels. A special feature of this watch is the rotor in solid 18-carat red gold in the form of a Lightning P-38: it was in this particular model of aircraft that Saint-Exupéry took off on a reconnaissance flight across the Mediterranean from which he never returned. This watch is just the latest in a series of timepieces created by IWC to highlight its long-standing partnership with the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Foundation.
Next we have the Big Pilot’s Watch Heritage. Available in two different models; titanium with a black dial and blue hands coated with luminescent material (IW501004) and in bronze with a black dial and blue hands coated with luminescent material (Ref. IW501005), both watches are driven by the IWC-manufactured calibre 52110 with a Pellaton winding system and a 7-day power reserve. A power reserve display at “3 o’clock” indicates the charging level at all times. The Bronze edition is limited to 1,500 pieces.
Finally, with the Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Heritage, IWC has recreated the iconic Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII in a titanium case for the first time: in titanium with a black dial and blue hands coated with luminescent material (Ref. IW327006).
All three watches are worn with a brown calfskin strap and are fitted with the tried and tested Pilot’s Watch technology from IWC: a soft-iron inner case keeps the movements safe from magnetic fields and the sapphire glass on all models is specially designed to be protected against sudden drops in pressure in the cockpit.
These new models are available from November in IWC boutiques and from authorised IWC retailers.
Price in Australian Dollars
Big Pilot’s Watch Annual Calendar Edition “Antoine de Saint Exupéry” (Ref. IW502706) – RRP AUD $48,900
Big Pilot’s Watch Heritage: available in two different models: in titanium with a black dial and blue hands coated with luminescent material (IW501004) RRP AUD $19,700 and in bronze with a black dial and blue hands coated with luminescent material (Ref. IW501005) RRP AUD $19,700
Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Heritage (Ref. IW327006) – RRP AUD $6,400