IWC INTRODUCES A NEW TOP GUN LINE WITH INNOVATIVE CASE MATERIALS
Introduced at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in Geneva early this year, IWC Schaffhausen recently unveiled the Top Gun line in the Pilot’s Watches collection in Manila. The Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph Top Gun Ceratanium is the first pilot's watch from IWC with a Ceratanium case. The material developed by IWC is as lightweight and robust as titanium and at the same time as hard and scratch-resistant as ceramic. In the same collection, IWC presented the first watch case made from sand-colored ceramic.
The Top Gun watches, which IWC has been producing since 2007, take their name from the U.S. Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program. This training program provides the best Navy pilots with flying and tactical training. Naval aviation requires incredible skill. When maneuvering in tight curves, for example, both the pilots and the aircraft are subjected to maximum acceleration forces. Spending months at a time on an aircraft carrier also takes its toll on personnel and material. These watches are therefore specially designed with robust materials, such as ceramic and titanium, to meet the specific requirements of elite jet pilots.
The matte black ceramic case, for example, ensures that pilots are not distracted by sunlight reflecting off their watches during the flight. The hard and scratchresistant ceramic is perfectly suited to daily use in a confined aircraft cockpit and can also withstand extreme G-forces. Ceramic and titanium are also extremely corrosion-resistant and can withstand humid, salty sea air.
The Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph Top Gun Ceratanium ( Ref. I W371815) is the first IWC Pilot's Watch made from Ceratanium, including all case components, including the chronograph pushbuttons or the pin buckle. This gives the watch a completely jet black design. The double chronograph has an integrated split-seconds hand mechanism for simultaneously measuring two short periods of time. It is powered by the 79420 calibre with self-winding and boasts a power reserve of 44 hours.
The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Edition "Mojave Desert" (Ref. IW389103) is the first watch with a case made from sand-coloured ceramic. This reference is limited to 500 pieces. The sand-colored ceramic is inspired by the Mojave Desert, home to the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake – the largest land area of the U.S. Navy. The color perfectly matches the uniforms worn by Navy pilots and is the result of a combination of zirconium oxide with other metallic oxides. The chronograph is powered by the 69380 Iwc-manufactured calibre. The chronograph movement with a classic column wheel design has both a chronograph function and a display for the day and date. The pawl-winding system, which winds up on both sides, boasts a power reserve of 46 hours.
In the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun (Ref. IW389101), IWC has integrated an Iwc-manufactured movement from the 69000 calibre family into its pilot's watches for the first time. The Iwc-manufactured calibre has both a chronograph function and a display for the day and date. The minutes are shown on the subdial at "12 o'clock" and the hours are shown at "9 o'clock". The red hand showing the small seconds at "6 o'clock" adds a splash of color to the black dial with white numbers and indexes.
The Pilot’s Watch Automatic Top Gun (Ref. IW326901) features an Iwc-manufactured movement from the new 32000 calibre family. The 32110 Iwc-manufactured calibre is a robust automatic movement that boasts a power reserve of 72 hours. With a diameter of 41 millimeters and a black ceramic case, the watch fits perfectly on any wrist.