IWC, a famous luxury Swiss watch manufacturer located in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, has just announced some of its most exciting new releases for 2016. The brand has given us a preview of its new Pilot's Watches: Big Pilot's Heritage Watch 55, and Big Pilot's Heritage Watch 48. The watches will be officially unveiled together with the additional 20 new references later this month, at SIHH exhibition in Geneva.
For 75 years, the emblematic Big Pilot’s Watch has been the largest watch ever made in the IWC workshops. However, this year, the house of the IWC will set a new milestone, the Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 55, with an outstanding 55-millimeter case diameter. This special, collector's piece that obscures a record that was set back in 1940, is issued in a limited edition comprising 100 exemplars, and available exclusively from selected IWC boutiques all over the world. The Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 48, which resembles the historical model, but is more suited to modern tastes, will be available in a limited series of 1000 pieces. As its names suggests, the Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 48 measures 48 mm in diameter, which makes it more practical for everyday use.
The Historic IWC Big Pilot’s Heritage 48 Watch from 1940.
Two new models are crafted from lightweight titanium, which is extremely durable and lightweight. Thanks for this contemporary material, the large round body of the Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 55 weighs less than 150 grams. The matte black dial is still based on historic cockpit instruments, a style that abandons anything not absolutely necessary. Its big Arabic numerals, hands, and indices are coated in beige-colored Super-LumiNova.
In order to remain faithful to the historic Big Pilot’s Watch from 1940, IWC reintroduces the figure 9, which has been omitted in subsequent models of the Big Pilot’s Watch after 2002. A triangular index with dots on either side, appears at 12 o'clock. Its main purpose is not merely decorative, since it makes it possible to recognize the relative position of the hands, even at a glance, and in the dark. Compared to the original model, the new Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 55 does not feature a central seconds hand. Instead, it features the small seconds indicator at 6 o'clock position.
IWC Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 55 is powered by the IWC hand-wound 98300 calibre, equipped with a shock absorption system and 48-hour power reserve. The Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 48 houses the IWC hand-wound 59215 calibre, which guarantees no less than 192 hours (8 days) of power reserve. The model also features a power reserve indicator, which is visible through a small aperture covered by sapphire glass on the back of the watch. A date window appears at the 6 o'clock position
Both new versions of the IWC Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch are mounted on brown calfskin straps. The strap is modeled after the historic leather strap found on the Big Pilot’s Watch. The strap is divided in two and sewn together at the ends, which allowed the timepiece to be worn over a thick flying suit. This small tweak also makes it impossible to drop the watch accidentally while putting it on the wrist.
IWC Big Pilot’s Heritage 55 (Ref. IW510401)
Limited edition of 100 individually numbered pieces
IWC Big Pilot’s Heritage 48 (Ref. IW510301)
Limited edition of 1000 pieces
There is no information about the prices, at the moment, but an unofficial estimate is somewhere between 14,000 and 16,000 CHF.
Author: Marina Milojevic Pinterest
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