====== IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph Spitfire ======
The **Pilot's Watch Chronograph Spitfire** (Ref. 3879) is a [[pilot's watch]] [[automatic chronograph]] produced by [[IWC]] since [[2019]].

===== Overview =====
The legendary [[IWC Mark XI]] aviator's watch was a "cult watch". Produced from [[1948]] until the early eighties, the Mark XI was never available to the public. Sensing an opportunity in the 1990s, IWC introduced a civilian version in [[1993]], the [[IWC Pilot's Watch Mark XII|Mark XII]]. But this was not the first civilian "flieger" from IWC. In [[1988]] the company introduced the [[IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph Mechaquartz|Pilot's Watch Chronograph Mechaquartz]] model, with a [[IWC Pilot's Watch Doppelchronograph|Doppelchronograph]] added in [[1992]]. The Mechaquartz was replaced by the [[IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph 3706|Pilot's Watch Chronograph, Ref. 3706]] in [[1994]], then the [[IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph 3717|Ref. 3717]] in [[2006]].

The [[2012]] launch of the [[IWC Pilot's Watch Mark XVII|Pilot's Watch Mark XVII]] spurred the release of two new Chronograph models. The [[IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph 3777|Ref. 3777]] continued with the [[ETA]]-based [[IWC 79320|Cal. 79320]] while the [[IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph 3878|"Spitfire" Ref. 3878]] introduced a new [[in-house]] [[flyback]] movement, [[IWC 89365|Cal. 89365]]. Although loved by fans, Ref. 3878 was priced much higher than the [[ETA 7750]]-based Ref. 3777 and failed to gain significant sales. It was cancelled in [[2016]] with no replacement.

In [[2019]], IWC introduced [[IWC Pilot's Watch Spitfire|a family of Spitfire watches]], including this new **Ref. 3879 Chronograph Spitfire**. Like the Ref. 3878, it uses an [[in-house]] movement. But the [[IWC 69380|Cal. 69380]] is a simpler design without the [[flyback]] feature on the Ref. 3878. In fact, it shares many components with the [[IWC 79320|Cal. 79320]] used in the basic [[IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph 3777|Ref. 3777]]. One notable difference is the arrangement of the subdials The in-house movement places the running seconds at 6 00 instead of 9 00 like the [[Valjoux 7750]]-based alternative.


<WRAP ud ud_mod>

**References:**
  * IW3879-01 (2019-present) [[Stainless steel]] case, black dial with white markings, olive textile strap
  * IW3879-02 (2018-present) [[Titanium]] bronze case, green dial with white markings, brown leather strap
  * IW3879-03 (2019-present) [[Stainless steel]] case, black dial with white markings, brown leather strap

**Movement: **
  * [[Automatic chronograph]] calibre [[IWC 69380|Cal. 69380]]

**Case: **
  * [[Stainless steel]] or [[ceramic]]
  * Ø 41.1 mm
  * H 15.3 mm
  * Screw-down caseback in [[stainless steel]]

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

**Functions: **
  * Hours, minutes
  * [[Chronograph seconds]] hand
  * [[Day]] and [[date]] window at 3 00
  * [[Small seconds]] at 6 00
  * [[Chronograph hours]] at 9 00
  * [[Chronograph minutes|Chronograph 30 minute counter]] at 12 00

**Bracelet: **
  * Leather strap

**Production: **
  * Production [[2018]] - Present
  * Predecessor [[IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph 3878]]
</WRAP>
===== See Also =====
  * [[IWC Pilot's Watch]]
  * [[IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph]]
  * [[IWC Pilot's Watch Spitfire]]


{{tag>Watch_models IWC_Pilot's_Watch_models IWC_Pilot's_Watch_Chronograph_models}}