IWC ADDS 41-MM CHRONOGRAPHS WITH IN-HOUSE MOVEMENTS TO PILOT’S WATCHES COLLECTION
Schaffhausen, 7th April 2021 – IWC Schaffhausen has launched the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 at the digital Watches & Wonders exhibition. The new model features a stainless steel case in a compact size of 41 millimetres and is available with a blue or green dial. To underscore the brand’s expertise in the development of in-house movements, it is powered by the IWC-manufactured 69385 calibre, which is visible through a sapphire glass back. With the new EasX-CHANGE system and a choice of straps made of calfskin, rubber or stainless steel, the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 is the ultimate sports watch.
For 85 years, IWC has been engineering Pilot’s Watches tailored to meet the functional requirements and specific needs of professional pilots. Initially conceived as precise and reliable tools for navigation, they are celebrated nowadays for their iconic cockpit instrument design, their extreme robustness and high versatility. A mainstay in the IWC Pilot’s Watches collection is the chronograph. The mechanical stopwatch function not only adds to the typical tool watch appearance but also offers virtually limitless applications in everyday life.
“Building on the success of our Spitfire chronographs from 2019, we are now introducing the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 into our classic collection. Thanks to the quick-change system and a choice of straps, the chronographs can be adapted swiftly to different surroundings. Combined with the now 10 bar water-resistant case, this versatility makes them perfect companions for adventures in the air, on the ground or by the water. To underline our ongoing commitment to innovation and technical excellence, we also fitted the new model with our in-house 69385 calibre chronograph movement, which is visible through a sapphire glass back,”
The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 is available in four references:
- Ref. IW388101: Stainless steel case, blue dial, rhodium-plated hands, blue calfskin strap.
- Ref. IW388102: Stainless steel case, blue dial, rhodium-plated hands, stainless steel bracelet.
- Ref. IW388103: Stainless steel case, green dial, rhodium-plated hands, brown calfskin strap.
- Ref. IW388104: Stainless steel case, green dial, rhodium-plated hands, stainless steel bracelet.
All new models feature a EasX-CHANGE system, which allows the wearer to quickly and easily change the strap or bracelet. Available as accessories in IWC boutiques or online on IWC.com is a choice of calfskin and rubber straps in attractive colours, as well as a new stainless steel bracelet with fine adjustment system and a slimmer shape for improved comfort and ergonomics. The reworked case construction ensures the chronographs are now water-resistant to 10 bar.
MANUFACTURE MOVEMENT VISIBLE THROUGH THE GLASS BACK
Ensuring a precise measurement of stop times up to 12 hours is the IWC-manufactured 69385 calibre. The mechanical chronograph movement consists of 231 individual parts and is engineered with a focus on robustness, reliability and precision. The stopwatch function is controlled by a column wheel, a complex component with two functional levels which is incredibly challenging to manufacture. A bi-directional pawl winding system supplies the movement with energy by efficiently converting the activity of the wearer’s arm into tension for the mainspring. It builds up a power reserve of 46 hours when fully wound.
Download our brand-new IWC APP – currently available for iOS from the App Store – to virtually try on the new Pilot’s Watches using Augmented Reality (AR) and discover exciting features and exclusive content from the IWC Schaffhausen universe.
IWC Schaffhausen is the Engineer of Watchmaking. In 1868, the American watchmaker and engineer Florentine Ariosto Jones established the ‘International Watch Company’ in Schaffhausen in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. By combining the best of human craftsmanship and creativity with cutting-edge industrial technology and processes, he laid the foundation for IWC’s unique engineering approach to watchmaking.
IWC’s distinctive and pure design is brought to life through collections ranging from elegant dress watches to sports and luxury sports watches, notably the Portugieser, Portofino, Pilot’s Watches and Ingenieur. Over its more than 150-year history, IWC has earned a reputation for creating professional instrument watches and functional complications, especially chronographs and calendars, which are ingenious, robust and easy to use.
A pioneer in the use of titanium and ceramic, IWC specializes in performance materials such as Ceratanium®. IWC’s advanced engineering division XPL develops technologies that enhance the durability of mechanical watches and extend their applications to environments with extreme conditions such as jet aviation and human spaceflight.
IWC is a leader in luxury watchmaking, crafting timepieces built to last for generations and continuously improving every aspect of how it manufactures, distributes and services its watches responsibly. Empowering the next generation of engineers, the brand also partners with organizations that work globally to support children and young people. IWC. EngineeredTM.