Protect your time; it’s valuable

Is it even a timepiece if manufacturers haven’t considered technology, which is the only thing that matters right now? We present case IWC Schaffhausen

Ceramic is the perfect material for a mechanical

watch case due to its rare properties. It’s lighter yet more solid than steel, almost as scratch-resistant as diamonds and has a mirror-like surface that’s pleasantly smooth.

IWC is a pioneer in the field of ceramics and has continually expanded its range. The coloured ceramic on its TOP GUN Pilot’s Watch is based on a combination of zirconium oxide and other metallic oxides. The brand doesn’t use fragile porcelain but specially engineers ceramics, inorganic, non-metallic materials that are highly resistant to physical or chemical influences. Even temperatures of over 1 000°C cannot harm them. Outside of watchmaking, the range of applications for technical ceramics includes capacitors and dental implants and even extends to components for aircraft turbines and highperformance engines.

Why trust iwc with your time?

IWC started using ceramics for watch cases more than 30 years ago. In 1986, the manufacturer launched the Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph in an innovative case made of black zirconium oxide ceramic. Then later, the brand used brown silicon nitride ceramic for the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition The Last Flight and black boron carbide ceramic for its Ingenieur Automatic Edition AMG GT, the most robust type of ceramic.

IWC has incorporated this high-tech material into its Pilot’s Watches range, mainly for its TOP GUN models. These performance-oriented timepieces are engineered for daily use in the tight confines of a jet cockpit and during long deployments on aircraft carriers. High resistance to scratches and corrosion are essential, making ceramic a sound material choice.

experience with colours

IWC has experimented with different ceramic colours. As early as the ’80s, the company produced small series or prototypes in white, blue, green and even pink ceramic. Producing coloured ceramic cases is demanding. The sand-coloured case of the Big Pilot’s Watch TOP GUN Edition Mojave Desert, the white case of the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN Edition Lake Tahoe and the dark green case of the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN Edition Woodland are each the result of unique formulas and sophisticated manufacturing processes.