THE NEW CLASSIC

From a navigational tool designed by aviators to a true style icon – track the history of the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch and you’ll discover that 85 years later, it’s reaching new heights.

1936 THE FIRST PILOT’S WATCH

Flash back to an era when an aviator’s watch is more than simply a time-keeper or fashion accessory. Pilots rely on a sextant to navigate in the sky and timing matters when they’re thousands of feet up. Hans and Rudolf, the sons of Ernst Jakob Homberger – owner of famed Swiss watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen – are passionate airmen. In the prelude to World War II, the brothers convince their father to customise a watch for the cockpit. With its shatterproof glass and antimagnetic movement to withstand altitude, the “Special Watch for Pilots” is born.

1940s MADE FOR THE MILITARY

The original Big Pilot’s Watch is crafted to military standards. Weighing in at 183 grams and with a 55mm-diameter face, its bold navigation tools can be seen through a kerosene haze, the glare above the clouds and the shaking fury of a roaring engine. Meanwhile, a large crown gives the pilot easy functionality – without needing to take their gloves off.

2002 FUNCTION MEETS FASHION

At a time when style-makers are declaring cargo pants and military jackets cool, the aviation watch – its outsized profile having changed little over the decades – becomes a must-wear. A fresh release and a series of special editions prove to be hits, turning the Big Pilot’s Watch into one of the most recognisable timepieces around the globe.

2007 TECHNOLOGY PLUS TRADITION

It’s the beginning of the smart age and classic engineering has to keep up. Continuing to collaborate with top pilots, IWC works on materials to make its bold, tough watch durable but lighter. The Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph Top Gun Edition, named for the US Navy’s elite flying school, comes out in matt black ceramic that doesn’t reflect the sun and with a tiny red fighter jet on the seconds hand.

2021 INTRODUCING THE BIG PILOT’S WATCH 43

The reliability of world-class engineering. Performance in any situation. Hand-crafted design that’s made to last. These hallmarks of the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch make the traditional timepiece irreplaceable in the digital era. Slimmed to 43mm (from the previous 46mm) for ergonomic comfort on the wrist, the latest stainless steel rework remains a purist’s observation watch: three high-impact rhodium-plated hands, no date window, no unnecessary display. Behind the face, the 82100 calibre movement and Pellaton auto-winding maintain military precision, visible through a sapphire-glass back. Yes, times have changed but function never goes out of fashion.