IWC Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Spitfire

Throughout its history, IWC Schaffhausen has engineered numerous mil-spec watches for different branches of the British military. These service watches were characterized by high-precision movements, extreme ruggedness, a functional design with easily legible dials, and purpose-built technical features. The Spitfire Pilot’s Watches reflect this chapter of the brand’s history. The Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Spitfire features the typical Big Pilot’s design with the striking conical crown in an ergonomic 43-millimetre case, combined with a distinct military aesthetic. The case and crown are made of bronze, while the case back is made of titanium. Alongside copper, the bronze used by IWC also contains aluminum and iron. This specific composition makes the alloy about 50 per cent harder than standard bronze. Bronze develops a unique patina over time, giving each timepiece a distinctive character and look of its own. The warm colour of the bronze harmonizes with the military green dial and the gold-plated hands. To facilitate readability at night, the hands and hour markers have been coated with luminescent material. Fitted with a green buffalo leather strap with a unique texture, the timepiece also features IWC’s new EasX-CHANGE system, allowing the wearer to change the strap quickly and easily at the touch of a button. At work inside the case is the IWC-manufactured 82100 calibre movement. The Pellaton winding system, reinforced with ceramic components, builds up a power reserve of 60 hours. A soft-iron inner case protects the movement from the effects of magnetic fields.