{"lien_WSTV":"","tax_name":"deprecated","tax_rate":20,"id_manufacturer":"0","id_supplier":"0","id_category_default":"497","id_shop_default":"1","manufacturer_name":false,"supplier_name":false,"name":"Big Pilot's Heritage Watch 55","description":"<p><strong>IWC PILOT\u2019S WATCHES 2016: AUTHENTIC AND ELEGANT<\/strong><br \/><br \/><strong>THE NEW PILOT\u2019S WATCHES FROM IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN<\/strong><br \/><br \/>The 2016 Pilot\u2019s Watch collection from Swiss luxury watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen offers a wide, balanced range of Pilot\u2019s Watches stretching from the Big Pilot\u2019s Heritage Watch to the stylish Mark XVIII and the elegant Pilot\u2019s Watch Automatic 36. With the new Timezoner Chronograph, a\u00a0 simple twist is all it takes to change the timezone, making it the perfect world time watch for\u00a0 frequent travellers. The exclusive and emotional \u201cAntoine de Saint\u00a0 Exup\u00e9ry\u201d and \u201cLe Petit Prince\u201d collections should also be a source of pleasure to many\u00a0 collectors this year. <br \/><br \/>\u201cIn 2016, we\u2019re widening our range to include smaller Pilot\u2019s Watches in the entry-level segment, without neglecting our traditional heritage,\u201d explains Georges Kern, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen. \u201cWith our stylish Pilot\u2019s Watch Mark XVIII and elegant Pilot\u2019s Watch Automatic 36, we\u2019re addressing women and men with slimmer wrists who have a penchant for elegance and understatement. At the same time, we\u2019re producing the sizeable and authentic Big Pilot\u2019s Heritage Watch, an observer\u2019s watch that\u2019s strongly reminiscent of the Big Pilot\u2019s Watch of 1940. And this year, IWC is launching yet another world-first that fits in particularly well with the subject of flying: the Pilot\u2019s Watch Timezoner Chronograph is the first timepiece where a new time zone, including the date, can be set merely by turning the bezel. And finally, as every year, we have the exclusive \u2018Antoine de Saint Exup\u00e9ry\u2019 and \u2018Le Petit\u00a0 Prince\u2019 collections. Their appeal lies in their original design ideas, such as the special annual calendar.\u201d <br \/><br \/><strong>PRECISELY ON COURSE<\/strong><br \/><br \/><strong>BIG PILOT\u2019S HERITAGE WATCH 55<\/strong><br \/><br \/>For 75 years, the historic Big Pilot\u2019s Watch (52-calibre T.S.C.) was the largest wristwatch ever made at IWC in Schaffhausen. In 2016, IWC Schaffhausen unveils its successor: with an amazing 55-millimetre case diameter, the Big Pilot\u2019s Heritage Watch 55 eclipses a record that was set back in 1940. Like its big brother, the Big Pilot\u2019s Heritage Watch 48 looks very much like the historic original, but makes a few more concessions to modern ideas of aesthetics and comfort.<br \/><br \/>Schaffhausen-based watch manufacturer IWC launched the Big Pilot\u2019s Watch (52-calibre T.S.C.) in 1940. It was the birth of the observer\u2019s watches from Schaffhausen. The Swiss company is now reviving this tradition: with the Big Pilot\u2019s Heritage Watch 55 (Ref. IW510401) and the Big Pilot\u2019s Heritage Watch 48 (Ref. IW510301), it is launching two fabulous new models that are unmistakably inspired by the original observer\u2019s watch. <br \/><br \/>With a case diameter of 55 millimetres, the Big Pilot\u2019s Heritage Watch 55 follows on directly from the Big Pilot\u2019s Watch of 1940. This enormous eye-catcher, available in a limited edition of just 100 watches, is aimed primarily at collectors and lovers of authentic pilot\u2019s watches. With a slightly smaller but still imposing case diameter of 48 millimetres, the Big Pilot\u2019s Heritage Watch 48, which is limited to 1,000 pieces, is a practical alternative for every-day use. <br \/><br \/>But it is not only the watches\u2019 size so much as their unmistakable visual features that will make the hearts of watch connoisseurs race. From the dial design and colour of the luminescent numerals to the shape of the propeller-like hands, cone-shaped crown and historic leather straps, it is as if the Heritage watches were taking us on a journey back in time to the pioneering days of aviation. Except that now we have state-of-the-art IWC watch technology. <br \/><br \/><strong>BIG. COMPACT. AUTHENTIC.<\/strong> <br \/><br \/>Anyone with a Big Pilot\u2019s Heritage Watch 55 (Ref. IW510401) on his wrist can be sure of one thing: making an impression. IWC\u2019s engineers took their cue from the original design and size of 1940 and brought the Big Pilot\u2019s Watch back to life. Except this time it is in titanium. The lighter material is a nod to modern-day possibilities: weighing\u00a0 less than 150 grams, the watch is not quite as heavy on the wrist as the 183 grams of the original in stainless steel. Back then, size meant important advantages. Firstly, it meant that the watch could have as big a movement as possible, guaranteeing the precision required for navigation or observer\u2019s watches.\u00a0 Secondly, a large dial was better able to accommodate clear numerals and offered much greater legibility. Back in those days, the dial design was very much based on historic cockpit instruments. Anything not absolutely necessary was abandoned to ensure that important information could be read off quickly and easily, even in poor visibility. The dial was matte black, and IWC\u2019s watchmakers had coated the big Arabic numerals and indices showing the minutes with a thick layer of beige-coloured radium. The health hazard posed by radioactive luminescent coatings was only recognized years later, at which point radium was replaced by harmless materials.\u00a0 The current SuperLumiNova\u00ae* coating guarantees excellent legibility. As in the original, the chapter ring, Arabic numerals and propeller-like hands are beige. <br \/><br \/><strong>TRIANGLE ONCE AGAIN UNDER CHAPTER RING<\/strong> <br \/><br \/>As an unmistakable sign of quality, even today the hands are blued. The figure \u201c9\u201d - omitted in subsequent models of the Big Pilot\u2019s Watch after 2002 - is back in its old, familiar\u00a0 position. And taking the place of the \u201c12\u201d is a triangular index with dots on either side, which make it possible to recognize the relative position of the hands and read the time even with a cursory glance in the dark. Today, the black dial and triangle are two features typical of a classic pilot\u2019s watch. The fact that IWC\u2019s designers chose to place it below \u201c12 o\u2019clock\u201d instead of integrating it in the chapter ring is a further evocation of the 1940 original. However, there is one small, visible difference: the Big Pilot\u2019s Heritage Watch 55 does not feature a central seconds hand like the Big Pilot\u2019s Watch (52-calibre T.S.C. - Tirette Seconde Centrale), produced in accordance with military specifications. Back then, pulling out the crown stopped the balance, thus allowing pilots and navigators to synchronize their watches with down-to-the-second accuracy. Today, the small seconds is found at \u201c6 o\u2019clock\u201d, and the IWC hand-wound 98300 calibre can likewise be stopped by pulling out the crown. <br \/><br \/><strong>FRICTION CLUTCH PROTECTS HAND-WOUND CALIBRE AGAINST OVERWINDING<\/strong> <br \/><br \/>As is usual in an observer\u2019s watch, the titanium case is sand-blasted to eliminate reflections that might be detrimental to the watch\u2019s legibility or betray the wearer\u2019s position to the enemy. The watch movement itself is protected against magnetic fields by a soft-iron inner case. The cone-shaped crown is a reminder of those early days of flying, when pilots in their unheated cockpits were forced to wear thick gloves. Back then, the crown needed to be unusually\u00a0 large and chunky to make setting and winding the watch possible even with gloves. And today, as in the past, the crown makes the daily ritual of winding the watch by hand a very special experience. With such a large crown, it would be easy to overwind and damage the mechanism, which for safety\u2019s sake is equipped with a friction clutch to prevent this from happening. The IWC hand-wound 98300 calibre features an elongated index for simple and precise setting absorption system and a 46-hour power reserve. The case back has been kept decidedly simple: the numbering from 01\/100 to 100\/100 is an unmistakable sign of this great watch\u2019s exclusiveness. The Big Pilot\u2019s Heritage Watch 55 is limited to 100 pieces and available exclusively from selected IWC boutiques all over the world. <br \/><br \/>For the brown calfskin strap, the designers took their inspiration from the historic leather strap found on the Big Pilot\u2019s Watch. This allowed the timepiece to be worn over a thick flying suit. The strap is divided in two and sewn together at the ends, which makes it impossible to drop the watch accidentally when putting it on your wrist. Then, as now, two rivets on the spring bar hold the strap together. After all, some of the features that made the 1940s Pilot\u2019s Watch so special simply cannot be enhanced. <br \/><br \/><strong>BIG PILOT\u2019S HERITAGE WATCH 48 WITH 8-DAY MOVEMENT<\/strong> <br \/><br \/>The Big Pilot\u2019s Heritage Watch 48 (Ref. IW510301) makes more concessions to modern-day aesthetics and concepts of comfort. And that, of course, begins with its size. On the wrist, the 48-millimetre case is particularly impressive and is guaranteed to attract inquisitive glances at the office or the dinner table. The watch is suited to everyday use thanks primarily to its light titanium, which reduces its weight to 120 grams. The IWC hand-wound 59215 calibre gives the owner the convenience of a 192-hour power reserve\u00a0 that guarantees accurate running for 8 days before it automatically stops. Just how much energy remains can be seen on the power reserve display visible through a small aperture covered by sapphire glass on the back of the watch. Despite the aperture, this Pilot\u2019s Watch also has a soft-iron inner case that guides magnetic fields safely around the movement. The 48 Heritage Watch likewise features a friction clutch against overwinding and is supplied with a riveted calfskin strap. <br \/><br \/><strong>OBSERVER\u2019S WATCHES ONCE CAME WITH SEPARATE DOWN-TO-THE-SECOND ACCURACY<\/strong> <br \/><br \/>Using an observer\u2019s watch back in the 1940s called for a chrono meter with down-to-the-second accuracy and\u00a0 a secure grasp of astronomy-based navigation. Simply\u00a0 \u201cdividing up\u201d time was a complex business. Prior to take-off, the flight commander would set his observer\u2019s watch by a fixed chronometer in the flight preparation centre; this was set using a time signal on the radio, which in turn took the time from a central seconds pendulum clock. <br \/><br \/>On board the aircraft, the Pilot\u2019s Watches were thus the most precise. The navigator held the octant and was\u00a0 connected to the wearer of the observer\u2019s watch, the flight commander, by radio. When the observer had set the sights of the octant so that they were in line with the star or sun, he would call out \u201cAttention, zero!\u201d and switch on his octant. On hearing the keyword \u201czero\u201d, the wearer of the observer\u2019s watch would read off the precise time. The exact course could then be calculated using a set of special tables. <br \/><br \/><strong>IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN<\/strong> <br \/>With a clear focus on technology and development, the Swiss watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen has been producing timepieces of lasting value since 1868. The company has gained an international reputation based on a passion for innovative solutions and technical ingenuity. One of the world\u2019s leading brands in the luxury watch segment, IWC crafts masterpieces of haute horlogerie at their finest, combining supreme precision with exclusive design. As an ecologically and socially responsible company, IWC is committed to sustainable production, supports institutions around the globe in their work with children and young people, and maintains partnerships with organizations dedicated to climate and environmental protection.<\/p>","description_short":"","quantity":0,"minimal_quantity":"0","available_now":"","available_later":"","price":13750,"specificPrice":false,"additional_shipping_cost":"0.00","wholesale_price":"0.000000","on_sale":"0","online_only":"0","unity":"","unit_price":0,"unit_price_ratio":"0.000000","ecotax":"0.000000","reference":"IW510401","supplier_reference":"","location":"","width":"0.000000","height":"0.000000","depth":"0.000000","weight":"0.000000","ean13":"","upc":"","link_rewrite":"grande-montre-d-aviateur-heritage-55","meta_description":"IWC PILOT\u2019S WATCHES 2016: AUTHENTIC AND ELEGANTTHE NEW PILOT\u2019S WATCHES FROM IWC SCHAFFHAUSENThe 2016 Pilot\u2019s Watch collection from Swiss luxury watch manufac...","meta_keywords":"","meta_title":"Watch IWC Big Pilot's Heritage Watch 55 | Montres d'Aviateur IW510401 Titanium - Calfskin Leather Strap","quantity_discount":"0","customizable":"0","new":false,"uploadable_files":"0","text_fields":"0","active":"1","redirect_type":"","id_product_redirected":"0","available_for_order":"0","available_date":"0000-00-00","condition":"new","show_price":"1","indexed":"1","visibility":"both","date_add":"2016-03-18 17:19:00","date_upd":"2016-12-01 12:46:23","tags":false,"base_price":"13750.000000","id_tax_rules_group":"1","id_color_default":0,"advanced_stock_management":"0","out_of_stock":0,"depends_on_stock":false,"isFullyLoaded":true,"cache_is_pack":"0","cache_has_attachments":"1","is_virtual":"0","id_pack_product_attribute":null,"cache_default_attribute":"0","category":"pilot-s-watches","pack_stock_type":"0","id":5603,"id_shop_list":null,"force_id":false,"customization_required":false}
{"Compl\u00e9ment":"Titanium - Calfskin Leather Strap","Statut de vente":"N est plus commercialis\u00e9","Date":"2016","S\u00e9rie limit\u00e9e":"Oui","Nombre d exemplaire":"100","Sexe":"Homme","Diam\u00e8tre":"55","Epaisseur":"13.5","Types":"Hand-winding","Styles":"Vintage","Calibre":"Calibre 98300","Affichage":"Superluminova luminescent hands","Complication":"Small Seconds","Mati\u00e8re du bo\u00eetier":"Titanium","Particularit\u00e9 du boitier":"Screwed-down crown, Anti-magnetic","Particularit\u00e9 du boitier_autre":"Soft-iron inner case","Etanch\u00e9it\u00e9":"60 meters","Forme":"Round","Couleur du cadran":"Black","Index":"Triangles, Superluminova luminescent, Arabic numerals, Baton-type","Verre":"Domed, Sapphire, Antireflective coating","Verre_autre":"Glass secured against displacement by drop in air pressure","Mati\u00e8re du bracelet":"Calfskin, Leather","Fermeture du bracelet":"Pin buckle","Couleur du bracelet":"Dark Brown","Plus de caract\u00e9ristiques":"<br\/>\r\nMovement<br\/>\r\nIWC-manufactured calibre 98300<br\/>\r\nFrequency: 18,000 A\/h (2.5 Hz)<br\/>\r\nJewels: 18<br\/>\r\nPower reserve: 46 h<br\/>\r\nSmall hacking seconds at \u201c6 o\u2019clock\u201d <br\/> Glucydur\u00ae beryllium alloy balance<br\/>\r\nBreguet spring <br\/>\r\n<br\/>\r\nCase<br\/>\r\nSoft-iron inner case for protection against magnetic fields<br\/>\r\nScrew-in crown with friction clutch<br\/>\r\nGlass secured against displacement by drop in air pressure, antireflective coating on both sides<br\/>\r\n<br\/>\r\nTtitanium pin buckle\r\n\r\n\r\n"}
Big Pilot's Heritage Watch 55
IW510401
| Brand : | IWC |
| Collection : | Pilot's Watches |
| Model : | Big Pilot's Heritage Watch 55 |
| Reference : | IW510401 |
| Nber of pieces : | 100 |
| Complement : | Titanium - Calfskin Leather Strap |
| Year : | 2016 |
| Is not commercialised any more | |
PDF INDEX CARD
-
Brand : IWC Collection : Pilot's Watches Model : Big Pilot's Heritage Watch 55 Reference : IW510401 Nber of pieces : 100 Complement : Titanium - Calfskin Leather Strap Year : 2016 Is not commercialised any more List Price : 16 500 € Diameter : 55 mm Thickness : 13.5 mm Styles : Vintage Types : Hand-winding Calibre : Calibre 98300 Complication : Small Seconds Case material : Titanium Case peculiarity : Screwed-down crown Anti-magnetic Soft-iron inner case Shape : Round Water-resistance : 60 meters Dial color : Black Display : Superluminova luminescent hands Indexes : Triangles Superluminova luminescent Arabic numerals Baton-type Glass : Domed Sapphire Antireflective coating Glass secured against displacement by drop in air pressure Strap material : Calfskin Leather Strap color : Dark Brown Strap clasp : Pin buckle + More characteristics :
Movement
IWC-manufactured calibre 98300
Frequency: 18,000 A/h (2.5 Hz)
Jewels: 18
Power reserve: 46 h
Small hacking seconds at “6 o’clock”
Glucydur® beryllium alloy balance
Breguet spring
Case
Soft-iron inner case for protection against magnetic fields
Screw-in crown with friction clutch
Glass secured against displacement by drop in air pressure, antireflective coating on both sides
Ttitanium pin buckle
DESCRIPTION
IWC PILOT’S WATCHES 2016: AUTHENTIC AND ELEGANT
THE NEW PILOT’S WATCHES FROM IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN
The 2016 Pilot’s Watch collection from Swiss luxury watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen offers a wide, balanced range of Pilot’s Watches stretching from the Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch to the stylish Mark XVIII and the elegant Pilot’s Watch Automatic 36. With the new Timezoner Chronograph, a simple twist is all it takes to change the timezone, making it the perfect world time watch for frequent travellers. The exclusive and emotional “Antoine de Saint Exupéry” and “Le Petit Prince” collections should also be a source of pleasure to many collectors this year.
“In 2016, we’re widening our range to include smaller Pilot’s Watches in the entry-level segment, without neglecting our traditional heritage,” explains Georges Kern, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen. “With our stylish Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII and elegant Pilot’s Watch Automatic 36, we’re addressing women and men with slimmer wrists who have a penchant for elegance and understatement. At the same time, we’re producing the sizeable and authentic Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch, an observer’s watch that’s strongly reminiscent of the Big Pilot’s Watch of 1940. And this year, IWC is launching yet another world-first that fits in particularly well with the subject of flying: the Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Chronograph is the first timepiece where a new time zone, including the date, can be set merely by turning the bezel. And finally, as every year, we have the exclusive ‘Antoine de Saint Exupéry’ and ‘Le Petit Prince’ collections. Their appeal lies in their original design ideas, such as the special annual calendar.”
PRECISELY ON COURSE
BIG PILOT’S HERITAGE WATCH 55
For 75 years, the historic Big Pilot’s Watch (52-calibre T.S.C.) was the largest wristwatch ever made at IWC in Schaffhausen. In 2016, IWC Schaffhausen unveils its successor: with an amazing 55-millimetre case diameter, the Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 55 eclipses a record that was set back in 1940. Like its big brother, the Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 48 looks very much like the historic original, but makes a few more concessions to modern ideas of aesthetics and comfort.
Schaffhausen-based watch manufacturer IWC launched the Big Pilot’s Watch (52-calibre T.S.C.) in 1940. It was the birth of the observer’s watches from Schaffhausen. The Swiss company is now reviving this tradition: with the Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 55 (Ref. IW510401) and the Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 48 (Ref. IW510301), it is launching two fabulous new models that are unmistakably inspired by the original observer’s watch.
With a case diameter of 55 millimetres, the Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 55 follows on directly from the Big Pilot’s Watch of 1940. This enormous eye-catcher, available in a limited edition of just 100 watches, is aimed primarily at collectors and lovers of authentic pilot’s watches. With a slightly smaller but still imposing case diameter of 48 millimetres, the Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 48, which is limited to 1,000 pieces, is a practical alternative for every-day use.
But it is not only the watches’ size so much as their unmistakable visual features that will make the hearts of watch connoisseurs race. From the dial design and colour of the luminescent numerals to the shape of the propeller-like hands, cone-shaped crown and historic leather straps, it is as if the Heritage watches were taking us on a journey back in time to the pioneering days of aviation. Except that now we have state-of-the-art IWC watch technology.
BIG. COMPACT. AUTHENTIC.
Anyone with a Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 55 (Ref. IW510401) on his wrist can be sure of one thing: making an impression. IWC’s engineers took their cue from the original design and size of 1940 and brought the Big Pilot’s Watch back to life. Except this time it is in titanium. The lighter material is a nod to modern-day possibilities: weighing less than 150 grams, the watch is not quite as heavy on the wrist as the 183 grams of the original in stainless steel. Back then, size meant important advantages. Firstly, it meant that the watch could have as big a movement as possible, guaranteeing the precision required for navigation or observer’s watches. Secondly, a large dial was better able to accommodate clear numerals and offered much greater legibility. Back in those days, the dial design was very much based on historic cockpit instruments. Anything not absolutely necessary was abandoned to ensure that important information could be read off quickly and easily, even in poor visibility. The dial was matte black, and IWC’s watchmakers had coated the big Arabic numerals and indices showing the minutes with a thick layer of beige-coloured radium. The health hazard posed by radioactive luminescent coatings was only recognized years later, at which point radium was replaced by harmless materials. The current SuperLumiNova®* coating guarantees excellent legibility. As in the original, the chapter ring, Arabic numerals and propeller-like hands are beige.
TRIANGLE ONCE AGAIN UNDER CHAPTER RING
As an unmistakable sign of quality, even today the hands are blued. The figure “9” - omitted in subsequent models of the Big Pilot’s Watch after 2002 - is back in its old, familiar position. And taking the place of the “12” is a triangular index with dots on either side, which make it possible to recognize the relative position of the hands and read the time even with a cursory glance in the dark. Today, the black dial and triangle are two features typical of a classic pilot’s watch. The fact that IWC’s designers chose to place it below “12 o’clock” instead of integrating it in the chapter ring is a further evocation of the 1940 original. However, there is one small, visible difference: the Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 55 does not feature a central seconds hand like the Big Pilot’s Watch (52-calibre T.S.C. - Tirette Seconde Centrale), produced in accordance with military specifications. Back then, pulling out the crown stopped the balance, thus allowing pilots and navigators to synchronize their watches with down-to-the-second accuracy. Today, the small seconds is found at “6 o’clock”, and the IWC hand-wound 98300 calibre can likewise be stopped by pulling out the crown.
FRICTION CLUTCH PROTECTS HAND-WOUND CALIBRE AGAINST OVERWINDING
As is usual in an observer’s watch, the titanium case is sand-blasted to eliminate reflections that might be detrimental to the watch’s legibility or betray the wearer’s position to the enemy. The watch movement itself is protected against magnetic fields by a soft-iron inner case. The cone-shaped crown is a reminder of those early days of flying, when pilots in their unheated cockpits were forced to wear thick gloves. Back then, the crown needed to be unusually large and chunky to make setting and winding the watch possible even with gloves. And today, as in the past, the crown makes the daily ritual of winding the watch by hand a very special experience. With such a large crown, it would be easy to overwind and damage the mechanism, which for safety’s sake is equipped with a friction clutch to prevent this from happening. The IWC hand-wound 98300 calibre features an elongated index for simple and precise setting absorption system and a 46-hour power reserve. The case back has been kept decidedly simple: the numbering from 01/100 to 100/100 is an unmistakable sign of this great watch’s exclusiveness. The Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 55 is limited to 100 pieces and available exclusively from selected IWC boutiques all over the world.
For the brown calfskin strap, the designers took their inspiration from the historic leather strap found on the Big Pilot’s Watch. This allowed the timepiece to be worn over a thick flying suit. The strap is divided in two and sewn together at the ends, which makes it impossible to drop the watch accidentally when putting it on your wrist. Then, as now, two rivets on the spring bar hold the strap together. After all, some of the features that made the 1940s Pilot’s Watch so special simply cannot be enhanced.
BIG PILOT’S HERITAGE WATCH 48 WITH 8-DAY MOVEMENT
The Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 48 (Ref. IW510301) makes more concessions to modern-day aesthetics and concepts of comfort. And that, of course, begins with its size. On the wrist, the 48-millimetre case is particularly impressive and is guaranteed to attract inquisitive glances at the office or the dinner table. The watch is suited to everyday use thanks primarily to its light titanium, which reduces its weight to 120 grams. The IWC hand-wound 59215 calibre gives the owner the convenience of a 192-hour power reserve that guarantees accurate running for 8 days before it automatically stops. Just how much energy remains can be seen on the power reserve display visible through a small aperture covered by sapphire glass on the back of the watch. Despite the aperture, this Pilot’s Watch also has a soft-iron inner case that guides magnetic fields safely around the movement. The 48 Heritage Watch likewise features a friction clutch against overwinding and is supplied with a riveted calfskin strap.
OBSERVER’S WATCHES ONCE CAME WITH SEPARATE DOWN-TO-THE-SECOND ACCURACY
Using an observer’s watch back in the 1940s called for a chrono meter with down-to-the-second accuracy and a secure grasp of astronomy-based navigation. Simply “dividing up” time was a complex business. Prior to take-off, the flight commander would set his observer’s watch by a fixed chronometer in the flight preparation centre; this was set using a time signal on the radio, which in turn took the time from a central seconds pendulum clock.
On board the aircraft, the Pilot’s Watches were thus the most precise. The navigator held the octant and was connected to the wearer of the observer’s watch, the flight commander, by radio. When the observer had set the sights of the octant so that they were in line with the star or sun, he would call out “Attention, zero!” and switch on his octant. On hearing the keyword “zero”, the wearer of the observer’s watch would read off the precise time. The exact course could then be calculated using a set of special tables.
IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN
With a clear focus on technology and development, the Swiss watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen has been producing timepieces of lasting value since 1868. The company has gained an international reputation based on a passion for innovative solutions and technical ingenuity. One of the world’s leading brands in the luxury watch segment, IWC crafts masterpieces of haute horlogerie at their finest, combining supreme precision with exclusive design. As an ecologically and socially responsible company, IWC is committed to sustainable production, supports institutions around the globe in their work with children and young people, and maintains partnerships with organizations dedicated to climate and environmental protection.
IWC PILOT’S WATCHES 2016: AUTHENTIC AND ELEGANT
THE NEW PILOT’S WATCHES FROM IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN
The 2016 Pilot’s Watch collection from Swiss luxury watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen offers a wide, balanced range of Pilot’s Watches stretching from the Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch to the stylish Mark XVIII and the elegant Pilot’s Watch Automatic 36. With the new Timezoner Chronograph, a simple twist is all it takes to change the timezone, making it the perfect world time watch for frequent travellers. The exclusive and emotional “Antoine de Saint Exupéry” and “Le Petit Prince” collections should also be a source of pleasure to many collectors this year.
“In 2016, we’re widening our range to include smaller Pilot’s Watches in the entry-level segment, without neglecting our traditional heritage,” explains Georges Kern, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen. “With our stylish Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII and elegant Pilot’s Watch Automatic 36, we’re addressing women and men with slimmer wrists who have a penchant for elegance and understatement. At the same time, we’re producing the sizeable and authentic Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch, an observer’s watch that’s strongly reminiscent of the Big Pilot’s Watch of 1940. And this year, IWC is launching yet another world-first that fits in particularly well with the subject of flying: the Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Chronograph is the first timepiece where a new time zone, including the date, can be set merely by turning the bezel. And finally, as every year, we have the exclusive ‘Antoine de Saint Exupéry’ and ‘Le Petit Prince’ collections. Their appeal lies in their original design ideas, such as the special annual calendar.”
PRECISELY ON COURSE
BIG PILOT’S HERITAGE WATCH 55
For 75 years, the historic Big Pilot’s Watch (52-calibre T.S.C.) was the largest wristwatch ever made at IWC in Schaffhausen. In 2016, IWC Schaffhausen unveils its successor: with an amazing 55-millimetre case diameter, the Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 55 eclipses a record that was set back in 1940. Like its big brother, the Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 48 looks very much like the historic original, but makes a few more concessions to modern ideas of aesthetics and comfort.
Schaffhausen-based watch manufacturer IWC launched the Big Pilot’s Watch (52-calibre T.S.C.) in 1940. It was the birth of the observer’s watches from Schaffhausen. The Swiss company is now reviving this tradition: with the Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 55 (Ref. IW510401) and the Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 48 (Ref. IW510301), it is launching two fabulous new models that are unmistakably inspired by the original observer’s watch.
With a case diameter of 55 millimetres, the Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 55 follows on directly from the Big Pilot’s Watch of 1940. This enormous eye-catcher, available in a limited edition of just 100 watches, is aimed primarily at collectors and lovers of authentic pilot’s watches. With a slightly smaller but still imposing case diameter of 48 millimetres, the Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 48, which is limited to 1,000 pieces, is a practical alternative for every-day use.
But it is not only the watches’ size so much as their unmistakable visual features that will make the hearts of watch connoisseurs race. From the dial design and colour of the luminescent numerals to the shape of the propeller-like hands, cone-shaped crown and historic leather straps, it is as if the Heritage watches were taking us on a journey back in time to the pioneering days of aviation. Except that now we have state-of-the-art IWC watch technology.
BIG. COMPACT. AUTHENTIC.
Anyone with a Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 55 (Ref. IW510401) on his wrist can be sure of one thing: making an impression. IWC’s engineers took their cue from the original design and size of 1940 and brought the Big Pilot’s Watch back to life. Except this time it is in titanium. The lighter material is a nod to modern-day possibilities: weighing less than 150 grams, the watch is not quite as heavy on the wrist as the 183 grams of the original in stainless steel. Back then, size meant important advantages. Firstly, it meant that the watch could have as big a movement as possible, guaranteeing the precision required for navigation or observer’s watches. Secondly, a large dial was better able to accommodate clear numerals and offered much greater legibility. Back in those days, the dial design was very much based on historic cockpit instruments. Anything not absolutely necessary was abandoned to ensure that important information could be read off quickly and easily, even in poor visibility. The dial was matte black, and IWC’s watchmakers had coated the big Arabic numerals and indices showing the minutes with a thick layer of beige-coloured radium. The health hazard posed by radioactive luminescent coatings was only recognized years later, at which point radium was replaced by harmless materials. The current SuperLumiNova®* coating guarantees excellent legibility. As in the original, the chapter ring, Arabic numerals and propeller-like hands are beige.
TRIANGLE ONCE AGAIN UNDER CHAPTER RING
As an unmistakable sign of quality, even today the hands are blued. The figure “9” - omitted in subsequent models of the Big Pilot’s Watch after 2002 - is back in its old, familiar position. And taking the place of the “12” is a triangular index with dots on either side, which make it possible to recognize the relative position of the hands and read the time even with a cursory glance in the dark. Today, the black dial and triangle are two features typical of a classic pilot’s watch. The fact that IWC’s designers chose to place it below “12 o’clock” instead of integrating it in the chapter ring is a further evocation of the 1940 original. However, there is one small, visible difference: the Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 55 does not feature a central seconds hand like the Big Pilot’s Watch (52-calibre T.S.C. - Tirette Seconde Centrale), produced in accordance with military specifications. Back then, pulling out the crown stopped the balance, thus allowing pilots and navigators to synchronize their watches with down-to-the-second accuracy. Today, the small seconds is found at “6 o’clock”, and the IWC hand-wound 98300 calibre can likewise be stopped by pulling out the crown.
FRICTION CLUTCH PROTECTS HAND-WOUND CALIBRE AGAINST OVERWINDING
As is usual in an observer’s watch, the titanium case is sand-blasted to eliminate reflections that might be detrimental to the watch’s legibility or betray the wearer’s position to the enemy. The watch movement itself is protected against magnetic fields by a soft-iron inner case. The cone-shaped crown is a reminder of those early days of flying, when pilots in their unheated cockpits were forced to wear thick gloves. Back then, the crown needed to be unusually large and chunky to make setting and winding the watch possible even with gloves. And today, as in the past, the crown makes the daily ritual of winding the watch by hand a very special experience. With such a large crown, it would be easy to overwind and damage the mechanism, which for safety’s sake is equipped with a friction clutch to prevent this from happening. The IWC hand-wound 98300 calibre features an elongated index for simple and precise setting absorption system and a 46-hour power reserve. The case back has been kept decidedly simple: the numbering from 01/100 to 100/100 is an unmistakable sign of this great watch’s exclusiveness. The Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 55 is limited to 100 pieces and available exclusively from selected IWC boutiques all over the world.
For the brown calfskin strap, the designers took their inspiration from the historic leather strap found on the Big Pilot’s Watch. This allowed the timepiece to be worn over a thick flying suit. The strap is divided in two and sewn together at the ends, which makes it impossible to drop the watch accidentally when putting it on your wrist. Then, as now, two rivets on the spring bar hold the strap together. After all, some of the features that made the 1940s Pilot’s Watch so special simply cannot be enhanced.
BIG PILOT’S HERITAGE WATCH 48 WITH 8-DAY MOVEMENT
The Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 48 (Ref. IW510301) makes more concessions to modern-day aesthetics and concepts of comfort. And that, of course, begins with its size. On the wrist, the 48-millimetre case is particularly impressive and is guaranteed to attract inquisitive glances at the office or the dinner table. The watch is suited to everyday use thanks primarily to its light titanium, which reduces its weight to 120 grams. The IWC hand-wound 59215 calibre gives the owner the convenience of a 192-hour power reserve that guarantees accurate running for 8 days before it automatically stops. Just how much energy remains can be seen on the power reserve display visible through a small aperture covered by sapphire glass on the back of the watch. Despite the aperture, this Pilot’s Watch also has a soft-iron inner case that guides magnetic fields safely around the movement. The 48 Heritage Watch likewise features a friction clutch against overwinding and is supplied with a riveted calfskin strap.
OBSERVER’S WATCHES ONCE CAME WITH SEPARATE DOWN-TO-THE-SECOND ACCURACY
Using an observer’s watch back in the 1940s called for a chrono meter with down-to-the-second accuracy and a secure grasp of astronomy-based navigation. Simply “dividing up” time was a complex business. Prior to take-off, the flight commander would set his observer’s watch by a fixed chronometer in the flight preparation centre; this was set using a time signal on the radio, which in turn took the time from a central seconds pendulum clock.
On board the aircraft, the Pilot’s Watches were thus the most precise. The navigator held the octant and was connected to the wearer of the observer’s watch, the flight commander, by radio. When the observer had set the sights of the octant so that they were in line with the star or sun, he would call out “Attention, zero!” and switch on his octant. On hearing the keyword “zero”, the wearer of the observer’s watch would read off the precise time. The exact course could then be calculated using a set of special tables.
IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN
With a clear focus on technology and development, the Swiss watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen has been producing timepieces of lasting value since 1868. The company has gained an international reputation based on a passion for innovative solutions and technical ingenuity. One of the world’s leading brands in the luxury watch segment, IWC crafts masterpieces of haute horlogerie at their finest, combining supreme precision with exclusive design. As an ecologically and socially responsible company, IWC is committed to sustainable production, supports institutions around the globe in their work with children and young people, and maintains partnerships with organizations dedicated to climate and environmental protection.
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Brand : IWC Collection : Pilot's Watches Model : Big Pilot's Heritage Watch 55 Reference : IW510401 Nber of pieces : 100 Complement : Titanium - Calfskin Leather Strap Year : 2016 Is not commercialised any more List Price : 16 500 € Diameter : 55 mm Thickness : 13.5 mm Styles : Vintage Types : Hand-winding Calibre : Calibre 98300 Complication : Small Seconds Case material : Titanium Case peculiarity : Screwed-down crown Anti-magnetic Soft-iron inner case Shape : Round Water-resistance : 60 meters Dial color : Black Display : Superluminova luminescent hands Indexes : Triangles Superluminova luminescent Arabic numerals Baton-type Glass : Domed Sapphire Antireflective coating Glass secured against displacement by drop in air pressure Strap material : Calfskin Leather Strap color : Dark Brown Strap clasp : Pin buckle More characteristics :
Movement
IWC-manufactured calibre 98300
Frequency: 18,000 A/h (2.5 Hz)
Jewels: 18
Power reserve: 46 h
Small hacking seconds at “6 o’clock”
Glucydur® beryllium alloy balance
Breguet spring
Case
Soft-iron inner case for protection against magnetic fields
Screw-in crown with friction clutch
Glass secured against displacement by drop in air pressure, antireflective coating on both sides
Ttitanium pin buckle