IWC has added two all-black watches to its TOP GUN Pilot’s watch collection with each encased in the brand’s proprietary Ceratanium material.
The matte-black material has the structural integrity of titanium and the scratch-resistant surface of ceramic.
The first of the two – the IWC Pilot’s Watch Timezoner TOP GUN Ceratanium – sees IWC’s Timezoner complication, an easy-to-use worldtimer adjusted by twisting the bezel, join its TOP GUN collection for the first time, while the second – the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar TOP GUN Ceratanium – is the first watch from IWC with a Ceratanium bracelet.
Not only is the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar TOP GUN Ceratanium around 30% lighter than stainless steel, but the alloy offers improved comfort against the skin. The watch uses an automatic IWC 52615 calibre, visible through a tinted sapphire crystal caseback, which manages a power reserve of seven days using twin mainspring barrels.
If kept wound, the perpetual calendar will require no date correction until 2100, while the moonphase will remain accurate for 577.5 years. Just 150 pieces will be made annually.
The Pilot’s Watch Timezoner TOP GUN Ceratanium can be adjusted for different timezones by pressing down its ceramic bezel and twisting, which causes the hour hand, 24-hour indication and date display to move forwards or backwards in one-hour increments. The watch is secured on a black rubber strap with textile inlay and IWC will produce 500 pieces annually.
Swiss luxury watch brand IWC Schaffhausen welcomes two new Ceratanium models to its TOP GUN Pilot’s Watch range. Developed by IWC’s material engineers, Ceratanium combines the lightness and structural integrity of titanium with a hardness and scratch-resistance similar to ceramic. In addition, this innovative material is also skin-friendly and highly resistant to corrosion.
The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar TOP GUN Ceratanium is the first watch from IWC with a Ceratanium bracelet, which is lighter than steel and very comfortable to wear. The Pilot’s Watch Timezoner TOP GUN Ceratanium is the first TOP GUN model with a Timezoner complication, allowing the wearer to change between different time zones effortlessly. Both novelties are powered by IWC-manufactured movements from the 52000 and 82000 calibre families.
Advanced performance materials such as ceramics, titanium and Ceratanium are a signature feature of IWC’s TOP GUN pilot’s watches. They take their name from the legendary Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor Program, a rigorous course used by the US Navy to train its elite pilots in flying and tactical skills.
IWC’s TOP GUN watches are engineered to deliver ultimate performance and can withstand even the extreme strain pilots experience in the cockpit of a supersonic jet.
The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar TOP GUN Ceratanium (Ref. IW503604) features a case, crown and, for the first time, a bracelet made of Ceratanium. As this material is based on a titanium alloy, the bracelet is around 30 percent lighter than a steel bracelet and extremely comfortable to wear.
The black dial with gray numerals enhances the jet-black design. This TOP GUN model is powered by the IWC-manufactured 52615 calibre, visible through the tinted sapphire glass case back. The Pellaton winding system is fitted with components made of virtually wear-free ceramic and builds up a power reserve of seven days in two barrels.
A single nightly switching impulse from the base movement drives the perpetual calendar. Its mechanical program automatically recognizes different month lengths and leap years and will require no correction until 2100.
Another IWC speciality is the specific moon phase display, which depicts the moon as it is seen from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. It is so precise that it will only deviate by one day after 577.5 years. The annual production of this extraordinary timepiece will be limited to 150 pieces. The watch can be set to a different time zone by simply pressing down and rotating the bezel. The hour hand, the 24-hour display and the date will move forwards or backwards in one-hour steps.
This also works across the dateline and without losing a single second. The case is made of Ceratanium, while the city ring is manufactured from ceramic. It contains the names of 24 cities, each one representing one of the international time zones. The numerals are printed in gray on the dial, while the numbers 12, 3, 6 and 9 are coated with a luminescent material.
The jet-black tactical design is complemented with a tinted sapphire glass case back and a black rubber strap with textile inlay.
The IWC-manufactured 82760 calibre uses a Pellaton winding system reinforced with ceramic components to build up a power reserve of 60 hours in the mainspring. The annual production of the Pilot’s Watch Timezoner TOP GUN Ceratanium will be limited to 500 pieces.
The Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar TOP GUN Ceratanium and the Pilot’s Watch Timezoner TOP GUN Ceratanium are available now through IWC boutiques, authorized retail partners or online at IWC.com.
In addition, both timepieces are eligible for registration under the My IWC care program and thus benefit from a 6-year extension to the standard 2-year International Limited Warranty.