====== IWC Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar ====== The **Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar** is an over-sized [[perpetual calendar]] [[pilot's watch]] produced by [[IWC]] from [[2006]] to [[2018]]. ===== 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]]. This was refreshed in [[2006]] with the updated [[IWC 51110|Cal. 51110]] as [[IWC Big Pilot 5004|Ref. 5004]]. Also in [[2006]], IWC released a special limited-edition **Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar, Ref. 5026** watch with a [[perpetual calendar]] mechanism in a limited edition of 25 in a [[platinum]] case. This watch used a large 46 mm case and was 16 mm thick with an oversized crown like the Ref. 5004. The dial was taken up by four subdials * 3:00 [[power reserve indicator]] and date of month, each by pointer * 6:00 month by pointer * 9:00 [[small seconds]] and day of week, each by pointer * 12:00 double [[moon phase indicator]] Additionally, a window at 7:30 shows the year with four digits. This was made possible by [[IWC 51612|Cal. 51612]], closely related to the [[IWC 51611|Cal. 51611]] previously seen in the [[IWC Portuguese Perpetual Calendar]]. A descendent of the first modern [[in-house]] IWC movement, [[IWC 5000|Cal. 5000]], this was an [[eight day]] movement with [[Pellaton]] [[automatic winding]]. Being part of the later series in this family, it ticks at 21,600 A/h. In [[2007]], Big Pilot Perpetual watches received the upgraded [[IWC 51614|Cal. 51614]]. The first Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar models were the un-numbered limited-edition "Sincere" [[platinum]] of [[2006]], followed closely by the limited-edition "Cellini" in [[titanium]]. In [[2007]], a unique [[stainless steel]] example was offered for [[Only Watch]], where it was sold for EUR80,000. Many other limited edition examples followed, culminating in [[2017]] with a unique piece offered for Laureus in Milano, Italy. In [[2012]], IWC introduced the **Top Gun Perpetual Calendar, Ref. 5029** in a large 48 mm [[ceramic]] case. It used the same [[IWC 51614|Cal. 51614]] movement but was styled in a modern military theme. This was the only "unlimited" model in the original Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar line. A slightly different version of the Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar arrived in [[2013]]. **Ref. 5028** differed only slightly [[IWC 51613|Cal. 51613]] had a "single" [[moon phase indicator]] at 12 00 and used pointer hands in all subdials. The first example was a unique "Le Petit Prince" piece in [[platinum]] auctioned for the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation. A limited edition of 270 in [[rose gold]] followed, and these remain extremely popular with collectors. **References:** * IW5026-02 "[[Only Watch]] 07" (2007) [[Stainless steel]] case, black dial with white markers, riveted black leather strap, unique piece * IW5026-05 "Sincere" (2006) [[Platinum]] case, black dial with white markers, riveted black leather strap, limited edition of 25 pieces * IW5026-06 "Cellini" (2006-2007) [[Titanium]] case, black dial with white markers, riveted black leather strap, limited edition of 50 pieces * IW5026-07 "[[Andreas Huber]]" (2008) [[Stainless steel]] case, black dial with white markers, riveted black leather strap, limited edition of 5 pieces * IW5026-07 "[[Carl F. Bucherer]] Steel" (2008) [[Stainless steel]] case, black dial with white markers, riveted black leather strap, limited edition of 65 pieces * IW5026-08 "[[Carl F. Bucherer]] Gold" (2008) [[Rose gold]] case, black dial with white markers, riveted brown leather strap, limited edition of 30 pieces * IW5026-09 "Swiss Fine Timing" (2009) [[Rose gold]] case, black dial with white markers, riveted black leather strap, limited edition of 25 pieces * IW5026-13 "Buenos Aires Simonetta Orsini" (2010) [[Rose gold]] case, black dial with white markers, brown leather strap, limited edition of 20 pieces * IW5026-15 "Gerais Salto Angel Venezuela" (2010) [[Rose gold]] case, black dial with white markers, brown leather strap, limited edition of 30 pieces * IW5026-17 "Antoine de Saint Exupéry" (2011) [[Rose gold]] case, brown dial with white markers, brown leather strap, limited edition of 500 pieces * IW5026-18 "IWC Boutique" (2010) [[Stainless steel]] case, black dial with yellow markers, riveted black leather strap, limited edition of 250 pieces * IW5026-19 "Buenos Aires Simonetta Orsini" (2010) [[Stainless steel]] case, black dial with white markers, riveted black leather strap, limited edition of 40 pieces * IW5026-20 "Middle East Boutique" (2010) [[Stainless steel]] case, black dial with white markers, riveted black leather strap, limited edition of 70 pieces * IW5026-21 "Zegg & Cerlati" (2011) [[Stainless steel]] case, charcoal dial with grey markers, riveted black leather strap, limited edition of 31 pieces * IW5026-28 "Boutique" (2010) [[Rose gold]] case, black dial with white markers, brown leather strap, limited edition of 70 pieces * IW5026-35 "Boutique" (2011) [[Rose gold]] case, black dial with beige markers, black leather strap, limited edition of 240 pieces * IW5026-35 "Gassan" (2011) [[Rose gold]] case, black dial with beige markers, brown leather Portuguese strap with gold thread, limited edition of 10 pieces * IW5026-36 "[[Carl F. Bucherer]] White Gold" (2011) [[White gold]] case, blue dial with white markers, blue alligator strap, limited edition of 30 pieces * IW5026-38 "Brazil Boutique" (2012) [[Rose gold]] case, grey slate dial with gold markers, black alligator strap, limited edition of 25 pieces (1-25) * IW5026-38 "Mexico Boutique" (2012) [[Rose gold]] case, grey slate dial with gold markers, black alligator strap, limited edition of 25 pieces (26-50) * IW5026-39 "Boutique" (2011) [[Rose gold]] case, gold dial, black alligator strap, limited edition of 250 pieces * IW5026-40 "Miami Boutique" (2015) [[Stainless steel]] case, black dial with yellow markers, riveted black alligator strap, limited edition of 50 pieces * IW5026-41 "Laureus Milano" (2017) [[Stainless steel]] case, blue dial with silver "panda" subdials and markers, black leather strap, unique piece * IW5028-01 "Le Petit Prince Platinum" (2013) [[Platinum]] case, blue dial with applied white markers, brown leather strap, unique piece * IW5028-02 "Le Petit Prince Rose Gold" (2013) [[Rose gold]] case, blue dial with applied gold and beige markers, brown leather strap, limited edition of 270 pieces * IW5028-03 "Laureus Zürich" (2014) [[Platinum]] case, blue dial with applied white markers, blue leather strap, unique piece * IW5028-04 "Latin America Boutique" (2015) [[Rose gold]] case, brown dial with applied markers, brown leather strap, limited edition of 50 pieces * IW5028-05 "London Boutique" (2015) [[Stainless steel]] case, gray dial with applied markers, blue alligator leather strap, limited edition of 38 pieces * IW5029-02 "Top Gun" (2012) [[Ceramic]] case, matte black dial with white markers, black textile strap * IW5029-03 "Top Gun Boutique" (2013) [[Ceramic]] case, matte black dial with red markers, black textile strap, limited edition of 250 pieces * IW5029-08 "Lewis Hamilton 5th F1" (2018) [[Ceramic]] case, black dial with gold markers, black textile strap, unique piece **Movement: ** * [[Automatic winding]] calibre [[IWC 51612|Cal. 51612]] or [[IWC 51614|Cal. 51614]] **Case: ** * Ø 46 mm or 48 mm * Screw-down caseback **Dial:** * [[Luminous]] painted indexes (triangle at 12 o'clock) * Arabic numerals **Functions: ** * Hours, minutes * [[power reserve indicator]] and date of month, each by pointer at 3 00 * Month by pointer at 6 00 * Four digit year window at 7 30 * [[Small seconds]] and day of week, each by pointer at 9 00 * Double [[moon phase indicator]] at 12 00 **Bracelet: ** * Leather strap **Production: ** * Production [[2006]] - [[2018]] * Successor [[IWC Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar]] ===== See Also ===== * [[IWC Pilot's Watch]] * [[IWC Pilot's Watch Top Gun]] * [[IWC Big Pilot's Watch]] {{tag>Watch_models IWC_Big_Pilot's_Watch_models}}