====== IWC Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar ======
The **Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar** is an over-sized [[perpetual calendar]] [[pilot's watch]] produced by [[IWC]] since [[2016]].

===== 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 [[IWC Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar|Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar, Ref. 5026]] in a 46 mm case. A Top Gun Perpetual Calendar, Ref. 5029 followed in [[2012]] with a larger 48 mm [[ceramic]] case, and the slightly different 46 mm Ref. 5028 arrived in [[2013]] with a "single" [[moon phase indicator]] instead of the double. These watches shared a similar movement, [[IWC 51612|Cal. 51612, 51613, or 51614]], a descendent of the first modern [[in-house]] IWC movement, [[IWC 5000|Cal. 5000]]. This was an [[eight day]] movement with [[Pellaton]] [[automatic winding]] but a [[single barrel]] which negatively impacted [[isochronosm]] when fully wound or unwound.

In [[2016]], IWC introduced a new [[double barrel]] [[seven day]] movement for the perpetual calendar series. [[IWC 52610|Cal. 52610]] was improved in many other respects as well, being [[IWC 52000|a new design]] benefiting from two decades of experience. It beats at 28,800 A/h. That same year, IWC began renaming the [[IWC Big Pilot|Big Pilot]] line to match the [[IWC Pilot's Watch|Pilot's Watch]]. Thus, the new Ref. 5038 was named **Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar**.

Two models of Ref. 5038 have been released, both in limited editions "Antoine de Saint Exupéry" features a brown color scheme while "A Tribute to the 1st IWC Pilot's Watch" is grey and with a blue strap. Both feature a single moon phase indicator at 12 00.

**Spitfire Bronze, Ref. 5036** was introduced at [[SIHH]] in [[2019]]. Part of the new [[IWC Pilot's Watch Spitfire]] collection, the Spitfire Perpetual is a limited edition of 250 pieces. It features a green dial and [[bronze]] case with a double moon phase indicator thanks to [[IWC 52615|Cal. 52615]].

Another model introduced at [[SIHH]] in [[2019]] is the **Rodeo Drive Ref. 50300**. This uses a black [[ceramic]] case slightly larger at 46.5 mm, reminiscent of the Top Gun models, and has a blue dial like the Little Prince watches. It also uses [[IWC 52615|Cal. 52615]] and has a double moon phase indicator. The Rodeo Drive is the first unlimited model of the new Perpetual Calendar.


<WRAP ud ud_mod>

**References:**
  * IW5038-01 "Antoine de Saint Exupéry" (2016) [[Stainless steel]] case, brown dial with applied white markers, brown leather strap, limited edition of 750 pieces
  * IW5038-02 "A Tribute to the 1st IWC Pilot's Watch" (2016) [[Rose gold]] case, ardiose grey dial with applied white markers, blue leather strap, limited edition of 36 pieces
  * IW5036-01 "Spitfire" (2019) [[Bronze]] case, green dial with applied white markers, riveted brown leather strap, limited edition of 250 pieces
  * IW5030-01 "Rodeo Drive" (2019) [[Ceramic]] black case, blue dial with white markers, black textile strap

**Movement: **
  * [[Automatic winding]] calibre [[IWC 52610|Cal. 52610]] or [[IWC 52615|Cal. 52615]]

**Case: **
  * Ø 46.2 mm or 46.5 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
  * Single or double [[moon phase indicator]] at 12 00

**Bracelet: **
  * Leather strap

**Production: **
  * Production [[2016]] - Present
  * Predecessor [[IWC Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar]]
</WRAP>
===== See Also =====
  * [[IWC Pilot's Watch]]
  * [[IWC Pilot's Watch Spitfire]]
  * [[IWC Pilot's Watch Top Gun]]
  * [[IWC Big Pilot's Watch]]


{{tag>Watch_models IWC_Big_Pilot's_Watch_models}}