Jewellery & Watch News
We can’t get enough of IWC Schaffhausen’s 2021 Watches & Wonders releases. We’ve already discussed the entire line-up here and reviewed the new Big Pilots 43 collection in detail here, but today we wanted to look at another reference, the IWC Pilots 41 Chronograph. Following on from the triumph of their iconic Spitfire Chronograph series, the classic Pilots Chronograph introduces a smaller 41mm stainless steel profile into the collection for those looking for their ultimate compact sports watch.
“Building on the success of our Spitfire chronographs from 2019, we are now introducing the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 into our classic collection. Thanks to the EasX-CHANGE system and a choice of straps, the chronographs can be adapted swiftly to different surroundings. Combined with the now 10 bar waterresistant case, this versatility makes them perfect companions for adventures in the air, on the ground or by the water. To underline our ongoing commitment to innovation and technical excellence, we also fitted the new model with our in-house 69385 calibre chronograph movement, which is visible through a sapphire glass back,” explains Christoph GraingerHerr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen.
The IWC-Manufacture 69385 Chronograph Calibre
No other complication is as popular as the chronograph and IWC are certainly no strangers to its construction. Last year, as part of their 2020 releases, the Swiss watch brand launched the chronograph complication in their Portugieser line represented within their 69000-calibre family. This same group of in-house movements now makes way for the 69385 calibre used for the new Pilots Chronograph 41 (Ref. IW3881). Its complex structure contains 231 individual parts and displays stop times on two subsidiary dials.
Each IWC Pilots Chronograph 41 watch displays three registers, one for small seconds at 6 o’clock, one for the 12 hours counter at 9 o’clock and another for 30 minutes counter at 12 o’clock. The stopwatch function is dominated by a column wheel, an intricate component with two functional levels which is incredibly challenging to manufacture. The IWC-manufacture 69385 chronograph movement also features a date display for the day of the week and the date at 3 o’clock to complete its balanced and sensible aesthetic and ensure all components are perfectly geared towards each other, making the mechanism unusually robust and reliable. Thanks to a bi-directional pawl winding system, the movement is efficiently warranted a power reserve of 46 hours when fully wound.
The IWC Pilots Chronograph 41
The IWC Pilots Chronograph 41 is currently available in four references. Each presents the iconic cockpit instrument DNA of the IWC Pilots collection through robust stainless steel cases, smooth unadorned fixed bezels, integrated push pieces and a large, knurled screw in crown that can easily be manipulated even when wearing gloves. The differences come in their smaller 41mm diameter with a choice of green or blue dials and metal or leather straps.
Reference IW388101 opts for a blue dial adorned with rhodium plated hands and blue calfskin leather strap while IW388102 follows suit but with a classic fine-link stainless steel bracelet. The other two references were instant favourites for us as soon as we saw them, and with how popular green-dialled watches have been recently, we’re certain most of you will feel the same. The first green-dialled reference is IW388103 which comes on stunning vintage-inspired brown calfskin leather strap and the last, reference IW388104, pairs the green face with a fine link stainless steel bracelet and folding buckle.
All IWC Pilots Chronograph 41 models deliver convex sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective coating on both sides, Superluminova hands and indexes, 100 metre water resistant ratings and exhibition case backs where the 69385 calibre, some of its 33 jewels and the Côtes de Genève decorated rotor is put on display. Each reference is also home to the luxury watch manufacturer’s a EasX-CHANGE system, a unique technology that allows you to quickly and easily change the strap or bracelet over depending on your mood or the occasion. If you like the look of one of the IWC Pilots Chronograph 41 watches but you think it’d look better on a different kind of band, you can shop compatible IWC straps on the C W Sellors website here.
For more information on the IWC Pilots Chronograph 41 collection and on the other IWC Watches and Wonders 2021 releases, get in touch with the team on 01335 45343 or send us a message at help@jurawatches.co.uk.
