patrick_y
[PuristSPro Moderator]
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2019 SIHH Novelties: IWC International Watch Company Pilots Watches
Patrick_y tells WatchProSite readers about his favorite from IWC.
IWC had an impressive display this year focusing on their Pilots Watches, my personal favorite category of watches from IWC. Literally, inside the IWC World, there is an airplane! A Silver Spitfire aircraft, from the Second World War, which will be used on a special expedition flight around the globe.
A gleaming Spitfire airplane lies within the IWC "hangar" space. It really creates a theme for the IWC world we are in.
The engine is massive!
The wings are handsomely industrial.
The cockpit is definitely not a comfortable place. Keep in mind, back in the 1940s, these cockpits weren't pressurized nor climatized in the same way airplanes today are. Pilots wore thick and heavy coats to stay warm.
The inside of the wing.
One more picture of that massive engine! It's important to note, the outstanding calibers of the IWC watches have almost all transitioned to in-house movements.
This bronze IWC Perpetual calendar is great! The bronze case won't ever turn green and has a cool sandblasted finish.
I really like this Pilot's chronograph. It's got a vintage feel to it that's just great!
IWC also chose some clever straps. This pilots watch now has a cool looking NATO-like strap on it.
IWC finally brought back the Doppel-Chrono to the Top Gun Pilots watch. The first Top Gun Doppel-Chrono was launched in 2007 where it quickly became a cult object. But it was cut by IWC a few years after that. Glad to see it back again! And for those expert WatchProSite members, you probably know, the movement was designed by Richard Habring of Habring^2 fame!
Desert storm, in a desert sand color.
I really liked this watch too. Who wants a small, but awesome looking blacked-out ceramic watch. This watch doesn't look like it's trying too hard like some other watches that has been modified to be blacked out. You can tell, this one was blacked out from day one as part of its design.
The warm hues of the bronze reminds me of gold. It's kind of like the taste of wood in a wine, it's soft, it's warm, the coconut and warm spices go well on wine and often makes the wine taste better. Well, the golden hue of the IWC bronze, which will not turn green, is very desirable!
The IWC Welt; a great showing of product!
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2019 SIHH Novelties: IWC International Watch Company Pilots Watches
Patrick_y tells WatchProSite readers about his favorite from IWC. IWC had an impressive display this year focusing on their Pilots Watches, my personal favorite category of watches from IWC. Literally, inside the IWC World, there is an airplane! A Silver ...
I know!
There are no "sans date" pilot watches this year... I hope they one day fulfill your request Nico! I really like the ceramic black one. It's modern too, so I can accept the date with the modernity. But the other vintage looking ones would be more correct ...
great report !! thank you!
I love the new sizes and in-house movements and the pricing ! great photos and a great opportunity to see them on the wrist. Thanks again for the effort !! love the plane photos too! Christian
I know we're a watch website and not an airplane website. But I couldn't resist!
The lighting was dark in the room and all of us had a very limited time to take photos of the watches in the dim light. Thank you for appreciating our efforts. The photos could be better, but unfortunately IWC has hundreds of guests to accommodate so I di...
Yes! When I passed by Roger Dubuis, I was impressed with the car in their display. When I passed by IWC and saw the airplane and the whole IWC Welt looking like an airplane hangar, I was immediately transported!
So far, IWC seems to have the coolest display this year!
Yeah! The lume is given an almost vintage look on some of the watches.
The steel cased watch with the green strap is supposed to have a "vintage" look and thus the lume is given that slightly orange color. I do like it though!
Thanks Patrick. The Pilot Chrono was something that really caught my eye, especially in Bronze.
Something I'd thought about before, actually the last time I was in an IWC boutique several months ago, is that I really like that IWC can offer the consumer the same watch in multiple materials at roughly the same price. Bronze, Steel, Ti and Ceramic. I ...
Careful about the ceramic...
I have a ceramic IWC Top Gun Doppel-Chrono personally. I've seen other people's same watch where the back side of the lugs were chipped and damaged by the removal of the strap! Ceramic may be hard, but it can be brittle and damaged when mishandled.
I remember when they first launched as not long after someone over on another forum dropped his, shattered, one of the lugs just broke clean off. Ugh.
The original double was one I did kinda chase back then, specifically the Carlson LE with the blue dial.
The bronze that will not turn green?
Thats very interesting. But they will still turn darker right?
Correct!
The bronze is sandblasted and not brushed. It might have some other coating. The team at IWC have said multiple times that it will not turn green, the bronze smell should be minimal, and they did mention it will patina over time to a darker shade.
Actually i prefer brushed finish rather than sandblasted
I guess we can't have everything
Sadly not...
I find the brushed is more traditional, but I have to say, I like the sandblasted bronze finish.
Pilot watches
At first I was a little shocked to see a Spitfire with a company that produced watches for the luftwaffe during WW2 (beobachtungsuhr). But then I remembered that IWC - astonishingly - produced watches for both sides of the conflict (simple dirty dozen pil...
"Neutrality" only means not to favour any side ...
... so as long as you offer the same conditions to all belligerents, you are still "neutral" (see Oerlikon). Marcus
Great Report, Thank you!
Some very nice offerings from IWC this year. That Spitfire aircraft is in amazing shape!
That Spitfire aircraft is going to be flown around the world!
The aircraft is going to be lovingly restored and readied for an around the world flight!
Nice coverage..and good reporting
I have been following IWC (gasp!)... the new 41mm bronze chrono has me thinking... nicely done..good size...reasonable priced... nice to see you running around halls of SIHH my friend...
Running a little less crazily this year. Thankfully!
The IWC stuff is nice this year! I'm quite pleased with it! Definitely their best year in a while!
