For this year’s SIHH, IWC is focusing on their Pilot’s collection. The Pilot’s collection, arguably, is probably of one our favorite collections in the IWC family. We like the Pilot’s range for its sleek, masculine, and sporty design. And this year’s new novelties, especially the Spitfire editions, are no exception to that either.
For this year, IWC has launched 3 different Spitfire models for the Pilot’s collection. They include the massive Big Pilot’s Watch Spitfire, the contemporary Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month Spitfire, as well as the sporty Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Spitfire.
Big Pilot’s Watch Spitfire
The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Spitfire, in Red Gold.
We kick start this article with one of the most iconic pieces in the Pilot’s collection: the Big Pilot. The Big Pilot, for many collectors, is famed for its massive wrist presence and legibility.
In this year’s SIHH, IWC has decided to give it a different touch with a beautiful red gold case. Paired with a mesmerizing slate grey dial, we thought that this Big Pilot looks rather ravishing. The 46mm timepiece, as per all the new Big Pilot’s Watches, is fitted with IWC’s Caliber 51111. It features a date indicator, as well as a staggering power reserve of approximately 7 days. The automatic movement will stop at the 168th hour mark (after a full-wind), to prevent the watch from becoming inaccurate as the torque diminishes.
The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Spitfire in rose gold, paired with a matching Santoni strap, retails at SGD$41,100.
Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month Spitfire
The IWC Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month Spitfire.
Next up, we move on the Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month Spitfire. This is one of the latest watches to feature the Digital Date-Month display, and we thought that it looks rather complimentary to this Pilot watch.
The Digital Date-Month display, as highlighted in our previous article, is rather ingenious. It steals a portion of the energy whenever the date display changes, in which it is accumulated to drive the month, year, and leap year discs whenever it is necessary. The watch, which is powered by IWC’s Caliber 89801, also features a flyback chronograph and a power reserve of approximately 68 hours.
The Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month Spitfire is available in stainless steel, and it is paired with the signature slate-grey dial. It is fitted with a matching Santoni strap, and it will be priced accordingly at SGD$47,300.
Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Spitfire
Another popular piece from the Pilot’s collection: the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph.
Finally, we end the article with yet another popular timepiece in the Pilot’s collection. The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph, as far as we are concerned, is one of the most popular pieces with collectors. It is not a surprise though, considering the watch’s handsome good looks and relatively accessible price point.
The new Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Spitfire, we reckon, is probably one of the nicest watch among its predecessors. We especially like how IWC has brought back the old date indicator, which we thought was much cleaner and better than the “altimeter style” date indicator that can be found in the Reference 3777. Also, as per all ‘Spitfire” editions, we feel that the slate-grey dial that was used in this timepiece made it a little wee bit more special.
The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Spitfire, with the “Beads of Rice” bracelet, is priced at $9,500. If you wish to own a Pilot’s Chronograph from IWC, and you are looking at something that is slightly different from the crowd, then perhaps this might be your best bet.
For more information please visit IWC
Technical Specifications:
IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Spitfire
Features:
Mechanical movement, Pellaton automatic winding, Power reserve display, Date display, Central
hacking seconds, Glucydur®* beryllium alloy balance, Breguet spring, Soft-iron inner case for
protection against magnetic fields, Screw-in crown, Glass secured against displacement by drops
in air pressure, Special back engraving
Movement: IWC-manufactured calibre: 51111
Frequency: 21,600 A/h | 3 Hz
Jewels: 42
Power reserve: 7 days (168 h)
Winding: Automatic
Material: 18-carat red gold case, slate-coloured dial, brown calfskin strap
by Santoni, 18-carat red gold folding clasp
Glass: Sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
Water-resistant: 6 bar
Diameter 46 mm
Height: 16 mm
Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month Spitfire
Features:
Mechanical chronograph movement, Perpetual calendar, Large double-digit displays for both the
date and month, Leap year display, Stopwatch with hours, minutes and seconds, Hour and
minute counters combined in a single totalizer at “12 o’clock”, Flyback function, Small hacking
seconds, Rotor in the shape of a Spitfire, Screw-in crown, Glass secured against displacement by
drops in air pressure, See-through sapphire-glass back
Movement: IWC-manufactured calibre 89801
Frequency: 28,800 A/h | 4 Hz
Jewels: 51
Power reserve: 68 h
Winding: Automatic
Materials: Stainless-steel case, slate-coloured dial, brown calfskin strap
by Santoni, stainless-steel folding clasp
Glass: Sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
Water-resistant: 6 bar
Diameter: 46 mm
Height: 17.5 mm
Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Spitfire
Features:
Mechanical chronograph movement, Date and day display, Stopwatch function with hours, minutes
and seconds, Small hacking seconds, Soft-iron inner case for protection against magnetic
fields, Screw-in crown, Glass secured against displacement by drops in air pressure, Special back
engraving
Movement: Calibre 79320
Frequency: 28,800 A/h | 4 Hz
Jewels: 25
Power reserve: 44 h
Winding: Automatic
Materials: Stainless-steel case, slate-coloured dial, stainless-steel bracelet with
fine-adjustment clasp
Glass: Sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
Water-resistant: 6 bar
Diameter: 43 mm
Height: 15 mm
