Summary of IWC Pilot’s Watches new releases for Watches & Wonders 2022.

Press release information.

IW389105 Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Edition “Lake Tahoe”

Located between California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe is a mountainous area frequently flown over by the pilots of the U.S Navy TOPGUN School. The winter landscape around this freshwater lake as well as white uniforms have influenced the design of the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN Edition “Lake Tahoe” (Ref. IW389105).

The chronograph features a 44.5-millimetre white ceramic case, a pitch-black dial, and black hands coated with luminescent material. IWC and Pantone have specified the ceramic color as “IWC Lake Tahoe”. The pushers and crown are made of stainless steel, the case back of titanium. The matching white rubber strap with a distinctive embossing accentuates the eye-catching design.

IW389106 Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Edition “Woodland”

The flight suits of naval aviators have inspired the distinctive shade of the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN Edition “Woodland” (Ref. IW389106). The newly developed “IWC Woodland” green is used for the ceramic case and the dial, while the numerals and hour markers are printed in a lighter hue. The pushers and the case back are made of matte black Ceratanium®. Developed by IWC, this material combines the lightness and structural integrity of titanium with a hardness and scratch-resistance similar to ceramic. A matching green rubber strap with textile inlay completes the design.

The use of colored ceramics for the new TOP GUN chronographs added an extra layer of complexity to the design and manufacturing process. With “IWC Lake Tahoe” and “IWC Woodland”, IWC engineered two completely new ceramic colors. A major challenge was to adapt the newly developed ceramic white and green shades to numerous other components made of different materials – each with unique properties and a specific manufacturing process – such as the dial, the hands, the rubber straps and textile inlays, and even luminescent paint.

IW388106 Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Ceratanium

Ceratanium® debuted in the IWC Pilot’s Watches collection with the Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph TOP GUN Ceratanium® in 2019. Now, this innovative new material returns to the TOP GUN collection with the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 TOP GUN Ceratanium® (Ref. IW388106), the first 41-millimetre Chronograph in this collection with a case, pushers and a crown made of Ceratanium®.

In addition to offering outstanding material properties like reduced weight and high scratch resistance, the most striking feature of Ceratanium® is its matte-black color, which IWC and Pantone have specified as “IWC Ceratanium®”. The dark and slightly metallic shade results from a unique manufacturing process: it develops on the surface of the material when the case components are fired at high temperatures in a kiln. Subdued white print and luminescence on the black dial and black hands underscore the all-black, stealthy design. The IWC-manufactured 69385 calibre chronograph movement is visible through the tinted sapphire glass case back. The timepiece is fitted on a black rubber strap with textile inlay.

Big Pilot’s Watch 43 TOP GUN

The Big Pilot’s Watch in black ceramic has been a staple in IWC’s TOP GUN line since 2012. Today, it becomes available in an ergonomic 43-millimetre case size for the first time. The Big Pilot’s Watch 43 TOP GUN (Ref. IW329801) features a case made of black zirconium oxide ceramic, a titanium case back, as well as black dial and hands.

The engineering ceramic used for the case offers maximum protection against scratches. IWC and Pantone have specified the black ceramic color as “IWC Jet Black”. The timepiece is powered by the IWC- manufactured 82100 calibre movement. The Pellaton winding system has been fitted with components made of virtually wear-free ceramic, and builds up a power reserve of 60 hours. The integrated EasX-CHANGE® allows to change the green textile strap effortlessly. A soft-iron inner case protects the movement from the effects of magnetic fields, while the front glass is secured to remain in its place even if there is a sudden drop of air pressure.

For more information regarding purchase prices and product details, please visit the IWC homepage.