Jewellery & Watch News
For the 2022 Watches & Wonders event, IWC Schaffhausen put all their focus on their iconic Top Gun series. Alongside a trio of boutique-only pieces, including two special ceramic designs and a Ceratanium chronograph, the Swiss watch manufacturer launched a new IWC Big Pilots Top Gun watch which for the first time is presented in a 43 millimetre case.
IWC Schaffhausen are the kings of all-black pilot’s watches, there’s no doubt about it. The story of the aesthetic began during the 1990’s when they introduced the 3705 Chronograph, a design which was created on two initiatives from the 80’s. The first was the introduction of black ceramic on their Da Vinci line and the second was their collaboration with Ferdinand Alexander Porsche who enlisted the luxury brand to create a range of titanium watches with full-black coated cases. A decade later, in 2007, IWC famously began a partnership with the TOP GUN flight school and working with the elite fast jet pilots created their first range of full black ceramic watches suitably named the IWC Pilots Top Gun. Now joining the collection is the new IWC Big Pilots 43 Top Gun watch under reference IW329801.
In 1986, IWC was the first watch manufacturer to create a watch case made of black zirconium oxide ceramic and as is evident in the brief history above, it has become a staple in their Pilots Watch collection. The process of engineering ceramics is no easy feat. It is a complex manufacturing process which includes powered raw materials, primarily minerals or silicates, mixed with auxiliary substances, which is then shaped and sintered at high temperatures in a kiln. The result however is worth it, and the deep matte black ceramic case of the IWC Big Pilots 43 Top Gun IW329801 delivers impeccable scratch resistance and lightweight wear.
In contrast to the black case is a case back and crown engineered from titanium. The difference in metals here is a stunning trait of many IWC’s ceramic pilot watches with both elements ensuring a 100 metre water resistance. The crown is screw down as is the case back which comes engraved with the legendary Top Gun logo. On top, the IWC Big Pilots 43 Top Gun watch opts for convex sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective treatment on both sides. For use in the air, the glass is secured against displacement by drop in air pressure. The 2022 release also features a black rubber strap with black textile inlay and IWC’s bracelet quick-change system.
One of the key design codes of the IWC Top Gun collection is a matte black dial to pair with the all-black case. The same can be said for the new IWC Big Pilots 43 Top Gun IW329801 watch which delivers an easy-to-read black backdrop set with large propeller-shaped hands for the hours and minutes, Arabic numerals and rectangular markers, all coated with glow in the dark Superluminova. Another trait common to the Top Gun watch’s dial is a hint of red for a stark contrast against the rest of the monochromatic design. On this reference, the red is spotted on the lettering at 6 o’clock for “TOP GUN”.
Housed inside the IWC Big Pilots 43 Top Gun watch is the IWC-manufactured 82100 calibre. The automatic winding movement is reinforced with ceramic components on the Pellaton winding system and is protected within a soft iron inner case for protection against magnetic fields. The Swiss made calibre is also engineered from a total of 162 components, 22 of these jewels. We’re also promised a frequency of 28,800vph and a power reserve of 60 hours.
If you’d like to learn more about the IWC Big Pilots 43 Top Gun IW329801 watch and order it for yourself, head over to the C W Sellors website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at sales@cwsellors.com.
Specifications: IWC Big Pilots 43 Top Gun IW329801
- Case Size: 43.8mm
- Case Material: Black ceramic
- Bezel: Fixed
- Glass: Convex sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
- Crown: Screw in, titanium
- Case Back: Screw down, titanium
- Water Resistance: 100 metres
- Movement: IWC-manufactured 82100 calibre, automatic
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds
- Power Reserve: 60 hours
- Jewels: 22
- Frequency: 28,800vph
- Dial: Matte black with Superluminova hands, numerals and markers
- Strap: Black rubber with textile inlay
