Horologii

IWC Watches & Wonders 2022 Releases

The luxury watch world’s biggest event has finally arrived – Watches & Wonders -and with it we’re  inundated with incredible new releases. To start us off in our run-down of 2022 Watches & Wonders launches, we’re taking a look at Schaffhausen-based watch brand IWC. The assortment honours their iconic Top Gun collection which typically features tactical pilot’s watches designed in homage of the flight school of the same name. As such, we’re treated to a duo of extra special ceramic pieces, a Ceratanium chronograph, a classic Big Pilots Chrono and a Big Pilots 43.

IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Edition “Woodland” (IW389106)

If you’re familiar with IWC’s history, you’ll remember the original black zirconium oxide ceramic and titanium case that marked the birth of the original IWC Pilots Top Gun family. Three years ago, the brand then introduced the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN Edition “Mojave Desert” which similarly utilised the brand’s pioneering work in the field of ceramic with a sand-coloured ceramic case. Now, IWC completes the collection with two new ceramics in white and green. The latter is this IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Edition “Woodland” which brings to life the military colours of naval aviator flight suits with an unmissable “Woodland Green” ceramic case and matching dial. Developed by IWC, the 44.5mm case is incredibly light and robust and features a Ceratanium case back, crown and pushers, and a green rubber strap with textile inlay and pin buckle. Typical to the IWC Pilots watch collection, the dial presents large markers and hands inlayed with light hued Superluminova powered by the IWC-manufactured calibre 69380 with a power reserve of 46 hours. The IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Edition “Woodland” is a boutique-only model.

IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Edition “Lake Tahoe” (IW389105)

Joining its forest-green counterpart is the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Edition “Lake Tahoe”. Similarly, the 44.5mm case is engineered from coloured ceramic but this time in a crisp white hue. The shade is inspired by Lake Tahoe, a body of water located near the Naval Air Station Fallon, home to the US Navy’s legendary TOPGUN school. The lake sits on the border between California and Nevada and is frequently used as a training ground by the pilots of the Navy Fighter Weapons School. The winter landscape around this freshwater lake as well as white US Navy uniforms have influenced the colour of this IWC Watches & Wonders 2022 release. In contrast to its stark ceramic housing and white rubber strap, the dial is finished in pitch-black and features matching black hands with Superluminova. In further contrast, the case also presents stainless steel crown and pushers and a steel closed case back assisting in a 60 metre water resistant rating. Like it’s brother above, the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Edition “Lake Tahoe” is powered by the IWC-manufactured 69380 calibre with a column wheel mechanism and 46 hour power reserve. It is also another boutique-only edition.

IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Top Gun Ceratanium (IW379901)

Yet another boutique only watch, the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Top Gun Ceratanium looks remarkably similar to its green and white counterparts above but is in fact engineered from a totally different material. First launched in 2019 by IWC, Ceratanium combines all the lightweight and rigid properties of titanium alongside the hard, wear-free and scratch resistant properties of ceramic. The patented material is used across all the case components including the case, bezel, crown, pushers and buckle.  As its name suggests, the case measures to a reasonable 41mm in diameter and offers the familiar utilitarian specs of the Pilot’s collection with sapphire crystal glass, screw in crown and 100 metre water resistance. New however is a partially tinted sapphire crystal glass case back which subtly exposes the IWC-manufactured calibre 69385 within. The automatic chronograph has a column wheel mechanism and stores up to 46 hours of power reserve. Completing the all-black aesthetic of the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Top Gun Ceratanium is a black rubber strap with black textile inlay and a black dial with matching grey tracks, numerals and markers. It’s an incredibly stealthy watch but one that still ensures intense legibility thanks to Superluminova inserts.

IWC Big Pilot’s 43 Top Gun (IW329801)

The IWC Big Pilots Top Gun watch in black ceramic has been a staple of the collection ever since 2012. Now, as part of their 2022 IWC Watches & Wonders releases, the Swiss watch manufacturer launches the design for the first time in a 43mm case. The same black zirconium oxide ceramic is present sitting on the wrist at 13.9mm in height with a titanium crown and screw down case back engraved with the Top Gun logo. As expected, a matching black dial sits centre stage with black hands, white printing and white luminescence. Powering the hours, minutes and seconds function is the IWC-manufactured 82100 calibre with a Pellaton winding system and power reserve of 60 hours. The movement of the IWC Big Pilots 43 Top Gun watch is also protected by a soft inner iron cage, like so many of the brand’s pilot watches, for protection against magnetic fields. Completing the design is a 100 metre water resistance and a green textile strap integrated with IWC’s EasX-CHANGE system for easy switching of straps.

IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun (IW389101)

Last but certainly not least in the line-up of IWC Watches & Wonders 2022 releases is this IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun. This model was actually revealed a little earlier to the event but its still classed as part of the collection and marks the first time IWC uses an in-house movement from their coveted 69000-calibre family for the Top Gun Chronograph. The IWC-manufactured 69380 calibre delivers all the premium specification we’ve come to expect from the brand including a 46 hour power reserve, frequency of 28,800vph and a Cotes de Geneve decorated rotor. The latter is kept hidden behind a screw down decorated case back which in contrast to the rest of the black ceramic case is engineered from titanium. To match, the 44.5mm case secures to the wrist by a black textile strap and at the centre opts for a black dial. On the dial, the red small seconds hand at 6 o’clock provides a striking colourful contrast to the rest of the greyed-out hardware as does the white Superluminova on the sword-shaped hands, numerals and markers.

If you’d like to learn more about the new IWC Watches & Wonders 2022 releases and shop the collection for yourself, head over to the Jura Watches website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team on 01335 453453 or send us a message at help@jurawatches.co.uk.