Available in either white lacquered or blue lacquered dial comes the new IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Big Date Edition “150 Years”. This is the first time that IWC presents a Pilot’s Watch with a double date display featuring large numerals at 12 o'clock. Available in a limited edition of 100 watches for each dial color, the new Big Pilot’s Watch Big Date Edition comes with a stainless steel case measuring the same 46.2 mm as the previous iterations of this watch and featuring a soft-iron solid case back with small opening. This new model is really nice with its dial featuring the triangular index positioned below the chapter ring with slightly bolder numerals and the five-minute indices a little slimmer. Overall, the dial is more similar to the original model from 1940 but with a very prominent date display. The blue dial model bears reference IW510503 and the white model bears IW510504. Both watches are delivered on a black alligator strap with the usual IWC signed folding clasp.
The Dial
Just like the rest of the "150 Years" celebratory pieces, the dials are lacquered finished in either blue or white. While the blue dial IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Big Date Edition ref. IW510503 features rhodium-plated hands, its sibling with white dial ref. IW510504 features blued hands.
The large date display consists of two discs with the first disc showing the tens and the second one the single digits. To retain the typically uncluttered style of the Pilot’s Watches, the power reserve display was transferred to the back and a running seconds subdial occupies the 6 o'clock position on the dial.
The Movement
The new IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Big Date Edition “150 Years” ref. IW5105 It is powered by the manual wound IWC in-house calibre 59235 with a power reserve of 8 days. The movement features a power reserve indicator on the mainplate that is visible via a small opening on the soft-iron solid case back engraved with the '150 Years' medallion. This 30-jewel manual wound movement beats at a frequency of 28,800 vph and is finished with Côtes de Genève and perlage.
On the Wrist & Pricing
On the wrist, the new IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Big Date Edition “150 Years” wears slightly larger than its actual case size and more like a 47 mm watch. While both watches are really nice we think that the white lacquered dial one is even much better looking thanks to the contrast provided by its black numerals and markers and the extra touch that the blue hands add to the whole equation.
Sticker Price $13,800 USD. For more info on IWC click here.
