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.
IWC Big Pilot Top Gun Miramar Line
The new Miramar line with its polished ceramic case, hands and chapter ring in beige, and green textile strap was inspired by the colour and material range typically favoured by the military. Thanks to the 51111 calibre, the largest manufactured in-house by IWC, the watch will continue running for a week when fully wound. The sapphire glass is secured against drops in pressure in the cockpit.
IWC Chronograph Edition Antoine de Saint Exupéry
With being 144 years in business, the globally known watchmaker IWC definitely knows its craft. Now they’ve introduced their sixth tribute to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, pioneering aviator and author of the little prince among others. This tribute is a truly rough pilot’s chronograph yet still remains in the frame of elegance aesthetics. The 45mm huge case is made of 18kt rosé gold and houses the Swiss IWC in-house caliber 89361 with flyback complication, 38 jewels and a power reserve of 68 hours.
IWC (International Watch Company), the illustrious Swiss watchmakers, was the first to develop a flight-ready watch in 1936 with the “Special Pilot’s Watch.” One of the earliest models of this piece was the Big Pilot Watch, IWC’s largest watch ever and a true testament to the size of Pilot Watches and the unprecedented amount of features packed into one timepiece. Beginning with the face of the watch, the Pilot Watch’s dial is reminiscent of the look of a cockpit with bold clear numbers and dashes for easy readability, a crucial attribute for pilot’s who did not have time to waste trying to read a cluttered dial. This face is protected by a dense, airtight piece of glass that is designed to shield the watch’s movement from any debris that could potentially float in mid flight. Below the dial is the movement itself, an unbelievably precise arrangement that is still to this day a marvel of modern watch manufacturing. The movement is encased in a layered multi-component structure that protects it from any magnetic waves or atmospheric interference that might disrupt the watch’s accuracy. -via Wax Wane
Piano Black with IWC Mark XVI
IWC - Ingenieur (Vintage) // History
No other watch from IWC has cemented the company’s reputation for technical expertise as strongly as the first Ingenieur, launched in 1955 with an IWC automatic movement housed in a soft-iron inner case for protection against magnetic fields. The giant leap from hand-wound to automatic movements had been made four years earlier with the then revolutionary IWC 85 calibre with central seconds, whose origins dated back to the 1940s.However, it was only with the Ingenieur that IWC catapulted itself into the vanguard of Swiss manufacturers competing to create the first bidirectional automatic movement. Its winding system – featuring a rocking bar and rollers in the automatic 85-calibre family – goes all the way back to Technical Director Albert Pellaton and set new standards in watchmaking.
IWC 2012 Pilot Collection
International Watch Co. unveils it’s 2012 Pilot Collection, following a sneak preview of the Top Gun Miramar chronograph a few weeks back. The newly distinguished professional pilot’s watches boast a wide range of functions and features, crafted from luxurious ceramic and titanium. Each watch from the collection comes with it’s own unique range of capabilities, while carrying a background story of heritage. As stated by IWC themselves, the name “Top Gun” stands for the best of its breed, which they believe is an epithet that applies to rest of the IWC range. The IWC Pilot collection is truly the mark of quality, and would make a very good investment indeed.
IWC 2012 Top Gun Marimar Chronograph Swiss timepiece manufacturer IWC is gearing to release a new chronograph with the Top Gun Miramar. The watch is one of five new models within the brand’s Pilot collection being introduced throughout 2012. Boasting technical upgrades, the piece also highlights a virtually scratch proof case connected to a green textile strap. In staying true to its name, the overall aesthetic welcomes unmistakable military inspiration.
(Source: thisisnotnew)
IWC Schaffhausen
IWC make some of the most beautiful timepieces.
(Source: chivapiano)
IWC - pure beauty
