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IWC Mark XI Pilot Watch

At first glance, this IWC Mark XI Pilot Watch doesn’t look like much. However, peel back the layers on the watch’s storied pedigree and impressive vintage hand-wound caliber 89 movement and you just might find enough to justify the estimated $6,000 USD price tag. Swiss watch maker IWC was one of the original contracts whose watches were issued exclusively to British airmen during World War II, with production for the Mark XI beginning in 1948. Standard for many pilot watches of the time, the brushed, stainless steel case is fitted with an internal casing of soft iron to protect the movement from being adversely affected by magnetic fields. The watch itself gets a Nato strap, and luminous hour and minute markers. And if you’re still not sold, a close look at the watch’s case back reveals its extremely limited numbers — a true war survivor, and one highly sought after by watch collectors.