IWC Watches

Pioneers of aviation have always displayed great courage. Defying gravity in heady heights, pilots have to keep their cool - and they have to be able to rely on their equipment for measuring distance and speed. In 1936, IWC launched its first aviator watch - a “Special Pilot’s Watch”. The Big Pilot's Watch 52 T. S. C. followed in 1940, produced specifically for military purposes. With its 55 millimetre case, the Big Pilot’s Watch 52 T. S. C. is IWC’s largest wristwatch, making the timepiece an exceptional eye-catcher in spite of the reductionist design that is inspired by the onboard instruments of aeroplanes. To this day, the legendary aviator watch by the International Watch Company is the largest of its kind. The Big Pilot’s Watch 52 T. S. C. later influenced the design of the legendary Big Pilot. Launched in 2002, the Big Pilot measures 46 millimetres in diameter, making it much smaller than the voluminous original from the ‘30s. However, the little brother of the Big Pilot’s Watch 52 T. S. C. is certainly no ordinary wristwatch: the Big Pilot is equipped with the manufacture calibre 51111, the biggest automatic movement produced by IWC.

The legendary aviator watch Mark XI was created in 1948 for the Royal Air Force and was in service for more than three decades. Hidden under the surface of this timepiece is an inner case comprised of soft iron, which was specially developed to keep the 89 calibre safe from damage caused by magnetic fields.

The Mark 11 owes its popularity to its robust characteristics and its classic design. It comes as no surprise then that the International Watch Company chose to extend the line starting with the Mark 12 and following through to the current Mark 17. The IWC Mark has served as an inspiration for a wide range of aviator watches.

The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph was launched fresh off the production line in 1988 and was met with immediate success. In the 1990s, the International Watch Company took a big step forward when the manufacturer developed numerous complications, including the UTC (Universal Time Coordinated) and the split-seconds mechanism, further generating the desirability of IWC timepieces.

2003 marked the creation of a Pilot’s Watch named after the Supermarine Spitfire - a British fighter aircraft that was utilized during the Second World War. Four years later, the first Top Gun watch was introduced by IWC.

Named after the United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor programme - a special training course at the US Navy Fighter Weapons School made famous by the 1986 film starring Tom Cruise - the Top Gun watch series offers several outstanding models. The Big Pilot’s Watch Top Gun Miramar is named after the pilot’s school of the US Marines in Miramar, California, which is the location where the Topgun-legend was born.

Both the Top Gun Miramar and its sister model, the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Miramar, impress with a simplistic military design that camouflages the modern technology driving these timepieces. Expanded with five new models in 2012, the TOP GUN collection offers luxury timepieces for every taste.

In 1944, Albert Pellaton became Technical Director at the International Watch Company - an office he held for 22 years. His masterpiece was without a doubt the 85 calibre that was presented in 1950. The 85 calibre was the company’s first automatic winding mechanism and completely replaced traditional reciprocal gearing, thanks to the pawl-winding system. Known as the Pellaton automatic winding system, this technological innovation quickly established itself on the market. Since 1955, the 85 calibre and its successors movements have been utilised in the IWC Ingenieur collection.

In the year 2000, IWC revived the Pellaton winding system with the 5000 calibre and equipped the Portugieser Automatic 2000 with this innovative instrument, which is attributable to Pellaton’s disciple: Kurt Klaus. For many IWC experts, Kurt Klaus is a household name, as the IWC Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Edition Kurt Klaus was named after him. Indicated by its name, this exceptional watch is equipped with an ingenious feature: a mechanically programmed perpetual calendar shows the year in four digits whose mechanism was developed by Kurt Klaus.

Albert Pellaton and Kurt Klaus have undoubtedly shaped the history of the International Watch Company as well the entire watch industry as a whole.

In 2008, IWC and the German Football Association (DFB) started a successful collaboration when the Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph Edition DFB accompanied the team to the UEFA European Football Championship. Four years later, during the UEFA European Championship in Poland and Ukraine, the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Edition DFB became the official timepiece of the German national football team. Finally, in 2014, an IWC Portugieser Yacht Club Chronograph on the wrist of German coach Joachim Löw, counted down the seconds to the fourth triumph of the German team during the World Cup.

Throughout the years, watches by IWC have achieved true greatness both inside and out. The timepieces produced by the International Watch Company enjoy great popularity due to their robustness, masculine charisma, and unique design. Not one for those who desire delicate accessories, IWC has long been known for large watches including the classic Portugieser or the wide range of Pilot’s Watches. The Big Pilot’s Watch is a favourite amongst IWC devotees and has inspired various other timepieces - even from other watch manufacturers - since its creation in 1940.

But an IWC watch does not always have to be oversized: the Portofino Midsize watches with a diameter of 37 millimetres are relatively small compared to the 55 millimetres of the Big Pilot, and are therefore considered to be the first IWC models for a more delicate wrist. The second-hand market proves to be a treasure trove of watches when it comes to the International Watch Company. New or used, IWC watches are worthwhile investments that show true strength in both design and technology.

Coveted Models of the Mark series

IWC watches are masterpieces of traditional watchmaking, successfully demonstrating fine craftsmanship combined with a spirit of technical innovation. Discover the most coveted models of the Mark series at CHRONEXT:

• IWC Mark
• IWC Mark XVII

Whether new, vintage or used - at CHRONEXT you will find a large selection of IWC watches at attractive prices. Convince yourself of the unbeatable price-performance ratio of the Swiss brand and buy a model online that will give you a lifetime of pleasure. By the way: used IWC watches represent a particularly clever deal, as you get high quality at relatively low prices.

Selling watches made easy

If you want to sell an IWC watch, you are in safe hands with us. In addition to the purchase of high-quality models, we also offer the sale of luxury watches. Contact our experienced specialists by phone or e-mail and we will be happy to advise you in this regard. Commission, direct sale and trade-in - we will help you get the best possible deal. You can find more information on our homepage.