====== IWC Big Pilot 5004 ======
The **Big Pilot 5004** is an over-sized [[pilot's watch]] produced by [[IWC]] from [[2006]] through [[2012]].

===== Overview =====
IWC created a "[[IWC Pilot's Watch Mark IX|Spezialuhr für Flieger]]" ("Special Watch for Pilots") in [[1936]] with clean black dial, large hands, and luminous numerals. Although the 36 mm case was fairly large for the time, pilots preferred an even larger dial and crown for extra visibility in the cockpit. In [[1940]], IWC responded with an official product, the prototypical "Big Pilot's watch". Created for the German Air Force, it had a massive 55 mm diameter case. The dial featured a luminous triangle at 12 flanked by two dots, plain numerals, and large luminous [[sword hands]]. Another essential element was a massive cone-shaped crown, allowing the watch to be operated while wearing gloves.

By the end of the 1990s, the [[IWC Pilot's Watch Mark XV|Mark XV]] and [[IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph 3705|Pilot's Watch Chronograph]] had become signature models for IWC. Watch case sizes were growing rapidly, and consumers were responding to "heritage" models that recalled the past. In [[2002]] IWC resurrected the oversized "Grosse Fliegeruhr" as the [[IWC Big Pilot 5002|Big Pilot, Ref. 5002]]. It used the new [[in-house]] [[automatic]] [[IWC 5011|Cal. 5011]], which used the company's trademark [[Pellaton winding system]] and boasted a [[seven-day power reserve]]. Notable differences from the original are the smaller 46 mm case, [[central seconds]], a [[date window]] at 6 00, and a [[power reserve indicator]] at 3 00.

IWC updated the movement and expanded the line in [[2006]] with the replacement Ref. 5004. The new [[IWC 51110|Cal. 51110]] operated at 21,600 A/h, still not [[high-beat]] but better than the stately 18,000 A/h in the original. Changes were also made to the dial, which lost the numeral 9 (for balance) but gained partial numerals at 2 and 4. The strap was now made of alligator leather rather than Santoni buffalo.

A vast number of limited editions were created, many for boutiques or retailers with cases of rose gold, white gold, titanium, and platinum. Some include [[small seconds]] at 9 00 thanks to [[IWC 51011|Cal. 51011]]. One notable version is the **Ref. 5003 Markus Bühler**, which used [[IWC 64900|Cal. 64900]] (a modified [[Unitas 6498]]) with a "turbine" at 6 00. 12 examples were made in [[2008]] by watchmaking apprentice Bühler and were sold as Ref. IW5003-01 by IWC for CHF9,000.

The successor, [[IWC Big Pilot 5009|Big Pilot, Ref. 5009]] was introduced in [[2012]] with a new crown that improved water resistance, the option of a black date background, and the applied markers on the hours replaced by luminous painting for a more traditional look.


<WRAP ud ud_mod>

**References:**
  * IW5004-01 (2006-2011) [[Stainless steel]] case, black dial, riveted black leather strap
  * IW5004-02 "White Gold" (2006-2011) [[White gold]] case, "ardiose" grey dial, riveted brown leather strap
  * IW5004-06 "Gassan" (2007) [[Rose gold]] case, silver dial, riveted black leather strap, limited to 30 pieces
  * IW5004-07 "Zegg and Cerlati" (2007) [[Stainless steel]] case, green dial, riveted green leather strap, limited to 20 pieces
  * IW5004-08 "Tourneau" (2007-2008) [[Rose gold]] case, black dial, riveted black leather strap, limited to 50 pieces
  * IW5004-09 "Rabat" (2007-2008) [[Rose gold]] case, black dial, riveted black leather strap, limited to 15 pieces
  * IW5004-10 "SHH" (2007) [[Titanium]] case, black dial with orange markers, riveted black leather strap, limited to 50 pieces
  * IW5004-11 "Bartorelli" (2007) [[IWC 51011|Cal. 51011]] with small seconds at 9 00, [[titanium]] case, black dial with white markers, riveted black leather strap, limited to 50 pieces in a set of 3 with [[Audemars Piguet Offshore Scuba]] and [[A. Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1]]
  * IW5004-12 "Las Vegas" (2007) [[IWC 51011|Cal. 51011]] with small seconds at 9 00, [[stainless steel]] case, black dial with yellow markers, riveted black leather strap, limited to 10 pieces plus 15 pieces
  * IW5003-01 "Markus Bühler" (2008) [[IWC 64900|Cal. 64900]], limited edition of 12 pieces
  * IW5004-13 [[IWC Pilot's Watch Father & Son|Father & Son]] (2008-2011) [[Platinum]] case, [[rhodium]] dial, riveted brown leather strap
  * IW5004-15 "Tim Jeffries" (2008) [[Rose gold]] case, black dial, riveted black leather strap, limited to 25 pieces
  * IW5004-16 "Arije" (2008) [[IWC 51011|Cal. 51011]] with small seconds at 9 00, [[rose gold]] case, black dial with white markers, riveted brown leather strap, limited to 20 pieces
  * IW5004-17 "Andrea Concato" (2008) [[Rose gold]] case, silver dial, riveted black leather strap, limited to 30 pieces
  * IW5004-18 "Tribute to Japan" (2009) [[IWC 51011|Cal. 51011]] with small seconds at 9 00, [[stainless steel]] case, silver dial, riveted black leather strap, limited to 100 pieces
  * IW5004-19 "Antoine de Saint Exupery Platinum" (2010) [[Platinum]] case, brown dial, riveted brown leather strap, unique piece
  * IW5004-20 "Antoine de Saint Exupery White Gold" (2009) [[White gold]] case, brown dial, riveted brown leather strap, limited to 250 pieces
  * IW5004-21 "Antoine de Saint Exupery Rose Gold" (2009) [[Rose gold]] case, brown dial, riveted brown leather strap, limited to 500 pieces
  * IW5004-22 "Antoine de Saint Exupery" (2009) [[Stainless steel]] case, brown dial, riveted brown leather strap, limited to 1,149 pieces
  * IW5004-23 "Buenos Aires" (2008) [[Rose gold]] case, black dial, riveted black leather strap, limited to 30 pieces
  * IW5004-25 "Tourneau Rose Gold" (2009) [[Rose gold]] case, silver dial, riveted black leather strap, limited to 50 pieces
  * IW5004-26 "Tourneau Platinum" (2010) [[Platinum]] case, silver dial, riveted black leather strap, limited to 10 pieces
  * IW5004-29 "Las Vegas Boutique" (2010) [[Stainless steel]] case, black dial with blue markers, riveted black leather strap, limited to 50 pieces
  * IW5004-30 "White Gold LE" (2011) [[White gold]] case, silver dial, grey leather strap, limited to 100 pieces
  * IW5004-31 "Alexei Nemov" (2011) [[Stainless steel]] case, black dial with blue markers, riveted black leather strap, limited to 50 pieces
  * IW5004-32 "DFB" (2012) [[IWC 51011|Cal. 51011]] with small seconds at 9 00, [[stainless steel]] case, silver dial, black textile strap, limited to 250 pieces
  * IW5004-33 "Muhammad Ali" (2012) [[Stainless steel]] case, black dial with red markers, riveted black leather strap, limited to 250 pieces
  * IW5004-34 "Wempe" (2012) [[Platinum]] case, black dial with gold markers, brown leather strap, limited to 10 pieces
  * IW5004-35 "Muhammad Ali White Gold" (2012) [[White gold]] case, black dial with red markers, riveted black leather strap, unique piece
  * IW5004-SH "Shanghai Boutique" (2010) [[White gold]] case, black dial with blue markers, riveted black leather strap, unique piece

**Movement: **
  * [[Automatic winding]] calibre [[IWC 51110|Cal. 51110]] or [[IWC 51011|Cal. 51011]]

**Case: **
  * [[Stainless steel]], [[satinated]]
  * Ø 46.2 mm
  * Screw-down caseback in [[stainless steel]]

**Dial:**
  * [[Luminous]] applied or painted indexes (triangle at 12 o'clock)
  * Arabic numerals
  * Steel hours and minutes hand, coated with [[luminous color]]
  * Painted seconds hand

**Functions: **
  * Hours, minutes
  * [[Power reserve indicator]] at 3 00
  * Date window at 6 00
  * [[Small seconds]] at 9 00 or [[central seconds]]

**Bracelet: **
  * Leather strap

**Production: **
  * Production [[2006]] - [[2012]]
  * Predecessor [[IWC Big Pilot 5002]]
  * Successor [[IWC Big Pilot 5009]]
</WRAP>
===== Watch video =====
  * [[IWC Big Pilot's Watch video]]

===== See Also =====
  * [[IWC Pilot's Watch]]
  * [[IWC Big Pilot's Watch]]


{{tag>Watch_models IWC_Big_Pilot's_Watch_models}}