IWC

IWC ADDS 41-MM CHRONOGRAPHS WITH IN-HOUSE MOVEMENTS TO PILOT’S WATCHES COLLECTION

Apr 08, 2021,09:20 AM

Schaffhausen, 7th April 2021 – IWC Schaffhausen has launched the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 at the digital Watches & Wonders exhibition. The new model features a stainless steel case in a compact size of 41 millimetres and is available with a blue or green dial. To underscore the brand’s expertise in the development of in-house movements, it is powered by the IWC-manufactured 69385 calibre, which is visible through a sapphire glass back. With the new EasX-CHANGE system and a choice of straps made of calfskin, rubber or stainless steel, the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 is the ultimate sports watch.

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. A mainstay in the IWC Pilot’s Watches collection is the chronograph. The mechanical stopwatch function not only adds to the typical tool watch appearance but also offers virtually limitless applications in everyday life.

The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 is available in four references:

Ref. IW388101: Stainless steel case, blue dial, rhodium-plated hands, blue calfskin strap.
Ref. IW388102: Stainless steel case, blue dial, rhodium-plated hands, stainless steel bracelet.
Ref. IW388103: Stainless steel case, green dial, rhodium-plated hands, brown calfskin strap.
Ref. IW388104: Stainless steel case, green dial, rhodium-plated hands, stainless steel bracelet.

All new models feature a EasX-CHANGE system, which allows the wearer to quickly and easily change the strap or bracelet. Available as accessories in IWC boutiques or online on IWC.com is a choice of calfskin and rubber straps in attractive colours, as well as a new stainless steel bracelet with fine adjustment system and a slimmer shape for improved comfort and ergonomics. The reworked case construction ensures the chronographs are now water-resistant to 10 bar.

MANUFACTURE MOVEMENT VISIBLE THROUGH THE GLASS BACK

Ensuring a precise measurement of stop times up to 12 hours is the IWC-manufactured 69385 calibre. The mechanical chronograph movement consists of 231 individual parts and is engineered with a focus on robustness, reliability and precision. The stopwatch function is controlled by a column wheel, a complex component with two functional levels which is incredibly challenging to manufacture. A bi-directional pawl winding system supplies the movement with energy by efficiently converting the activity of the wearer’s arm into tension for the mainspring. It builds up a power reserve of 46 hours when fully wound.

Photo: Monochrome

Comments: view entire thread

These should do well...

By: Mostel : April 8th, 2021-15:37

Composition of dial is improved. Size more wearable. Yes.... IWC continues to reconstitute the same old stuff... but in this case, the same old stuff is the stuff that makes them IWC... shrug... at right price, (pre-owned 40% off msrp) why not. Green is c...

What exactly is unimpressive about an in-house column wheel, vertical clutch chronograph, bi-directional pawl winding system movement that is at least on par with the Rolex 4130?

By: LX (Alex) : April 9th, 2021-12:06

Well, for one thing the Daytona has 72 hours of PR... 😂

By: India Whiskey Charlie : April 9th, 2021-12:12

Versus 46 for the IWC.

46 is not spectacular but still good enough in my world but 72 is obviously more 😀

By: LX (Alex) : April 9th, 2021-12:15

I know, just kidding but many people brag about longer PR

By: India Whiskey Charlie : April 9th, 2021-12:17

Which to me is not as relevant in an automatic watch.

The current movement is a 7750 clone

By: Mostel : April 9th, 2021-18:37

with not much improvements... created to combat the ETA shortage... if I am wrong let me know... ?

Yes, that is correct.

By: India Whiskey Charlie : April 9th, 2021-20:24

The 7750 doesn’t have many of the technical features that this IWC movement has, so I struggle to see why the IWC movement can be called a clone.

By: LX (Alex) : April 10th, 2021-00:59

Since there seems to be little information about how the new IWC movement compares to the 7750 it would be interesting for me to understand. I was under the impression that this movement is IWC’s own development. If that’s not true I think it might be int...

True but caliber 69385 is largely based on the 7750 architecture which itself was highly modified by IWC in the 79320 (43 mm models)

By: India Whiskey Charlie : April 10th, 2021-07:29

Unless I am wrong...

By: Mostel : April 11th, 2021-17:36

It's a non-progressive 'clone', it could have been a major advancement but was not. The PR is 'lazy' by current standards. Now remember, this is a very recent 'new' movement. Not 15 yrs ago. IWC did not innovate. IWC did not even improve the clone. Except...

That's one way to look at it but you have to give credit to IWC for what they have done to the 7750 ébauche successfully over the past several decades

By: India Whiskey Charlie : April 12th, 2021-10:23

Many still consider those as unmatched by any other manufacturer or watchmaker. And, if their new movements are anything like those, they'll have a winner on their hands.

They look amazing!

By: Chronometer (aka yacomino) : April 8th, 2021-17:33

are they using a silicone hairspring, etc. for anti-magnetic properties, now that a display back is added?

By: DouglasM : May 19th, 2021-16:40