The Pilot’s Watch collection from IWC, with roots dating back to the 1940s and a production history starting in the mid-1990s, is one of the brand's most renowned lines, encompassing almost every complication and movement the brand has created over the years. Naturally, Kurt Klaus’s perpetual calendar is no exception to the rule, and the Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar has recently appeared in various editions, such as the new Racing Green model or the blue-steel model from the permanent collection. But today, a watch in the TOP GUN style has been released, characterized by a tactical black color scheme. However, more interesting than the appearance are the materials, as this is the brand's first watch entirely made of Ceratanium, both case and bracelet. Meet the new IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar TOP GUN Ceratanium IW503604.
If you think for a moment... The overall idea of these watches might seem familiar to you. Indeed, right in the midst of the 'Black Lives Matter' movement, a certain Lewis Hamilton was spotted with very surprising (and unique) Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar with a completely black dial and, most importantly, fully clad in Ceratanium... And while we don’t know if he was testing a prototype at the time or if the brand was inspired by Hamilton's idea, the concept now joins the collection with the new model IW503604, IWC's first fully Ceratanium watch. And since this innovative material is not the easiest to produce, it will be reserved for one of the most complex BP available, the Perpetual Calendar.
In short, technically speaking, the watch in question is based on the stainless steel model with a blue dial, which returned to the permanent collection earlier this year under reference IW503605. This means an enlarged case with a diameter of 46.2 mm and a height of 15.4 mm - yes, it’s big, no doubt, but after all, it's part of the concept - with typical pilot watch elements like the diamond-shaped screw-down crown and sapphire crystal on top, which is protected from displacement caused by atmospheric pressure changes - yes, IWC pilot watches are true pilot watches. The display is based on the perpetual calendar module developed by Kurt Klaus in the 1980s, with its spread of indications (thus feeling at home in such a large case) with hours/minutes, small seconds, power reserve indicator, and a perpetual calendar that shows the date, day of the week, month, year in 4 digits, and a double moon phase for the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Under the screw-down sapphire case back, the surface of which is slightly tinted, lies the caliber 52615, a powerful in-house automatic base movement providing a power reserve of at least 7 days or 168 hours on two barrels. Operating at a frequency of 4 Hz, the base movement powers the QP module on top and is wound using the Pellaton winding system. The view through the case back with partially tinted coating gives the watch a cohesive look.
So now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s see what makes these IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar TOP GUN Ceratanium IW503604 watches special. First of all, being part of the TOP GUN family, it’s all about the tactical all-black and modern look. For instance, the dial has a matte black base and is adorned with luminous elements and gray markers, which are only accented by small red touches on the QP hand tips. The monochromatic, jet-black design continues on the case, made of Ceratanium, as well as on the crown.
Recall that Ceratanium is IWC’s latest development in advanced performance materials. Known for its pioneering use of titanium and ceramics, the brand recently developed Ceratanium, a material combining the lightness and structural integrity of titanium with the hardness and scratch resistance of ceramics. Created from a titanium alloy specially made for IWC, it undergoes a sintering process, resulting in a phase transformation of the surface and forming a ceramic-like surface that bonds directly with titanium. Thus, the matte black surface you see is not a coating but a treatment of the metal's structure… The result is a material lighter than steel, with high mechanical strength, and protected against aggression (scratches and corrosion).
Here, in addition to the case and crown made from this innovative alloy, the bracelet is also made of Ceratanium, a first for the brand. The bracelet with H-shaped links has the same matte black and skin-friendly surface as the case and is equipped with a folding clasp. What’s especially nice, the clasp is equipped with fine adjustment.
AVAILABILITY AND PRICE
The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar TOP GUN Ceratanium will not be limited in quantity, but its production will be limited to 150 pieces per year. The watch is priced at 46,800 euros.
More information can be found on iwc.com.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS – IWC BIG PILOT’S WATCH PERPETUAL CALENDAR TOP GUN CERATANIUM
Case: 46.2 mm diameter x 15.4 mm height – Ceratanium case (titanium alloy with black matte ceramic) – sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, protected against displacement by atmospheric pressure changes – screw-down crown – sapphire case back – water resistance 60 meters
Dial: Matte black dial with black hands, all elements filled with Super-LumiNova luminous material in gray
Movement: IWC caliber 52615 – automatic with Pellaton winding system – 54 jewels – 7-day or 168-hour power reserve – 28,800 vibrations/hour – hours, minutes, small seconds (hacking), perpetual calendar with date, day of the week, month, 4-digit year, perpetual moon phase for Northern and Southern Hemispheres, power reserve indicator
Bracelet: Ceratanium bracelet, H-shaped, black matte – Ceratanium folding clasp with micro-adjustment system
Reference: IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar TOP GUN Ceratanium
Availability: not limited, but production limited to 150 pieces per year
Price: 46,800 EURO