====== IWC Pilot's Watch Top Gun ====== **Top Gun** is a sub-model of the [[IWC]] [[IWC Pilot's Watch|Pilot's Watch]] line since [[2007]], denoting a modern military aesthetic. ===== Top Gun and Miramar ===== IWC introduced the **Top Gun** branding in [[2007]] on a version of the [[IWC Pilot's Watch Double Chronograph|Pilot's Watch Double Chronograph]]. Named for the instructor of the special training course for United States Navy pilots, the Top Gun line refreshed the classic [[pilot's watch]] looks with modern military sensibilities. The key aspects of most Top Gun watches include the following * An oversized black [[ceramic]] case * Matte black dial with white luminous markers and red accents * Black textile strap In [[2012]], IWC added a second look to the Top Gun line with the **Miramar**. This is named for the pilots school of the United States Marines at Miramar, California. The Miramar models have the following elements * An oversized grey [[ceramic]] case * Matte black dial with white luminous markers and separate red hour ring * Green textile strap ===== Chronology ===== The original **Double Chronograph Top Gun, Ref. 3699** exemplified these elements, with a 46 mm ceramic case, matte black dial, and red airplane-shaped accents on the double chronograph seconds hands. The pushers and crown as well as the caseback were done in gray [[titanium]], adding to the military-spec look. Like all other [[IWC Pilot's Watch Double Chronograph|Double Chronographs]], the Ref. 3699 used [[IWC 79230|Cal. 79230]], a modified [[ETA 7750]] [[automatic chronograph]] movement with a novel [[double chronograph]] module. This was the only Top Gun model for five years. In [[2012]] IWC created an entire sub-model line of five "Top Gun" watches within various [[IWC Pilot's Watch]] lines. The most exotic was the [[IWC Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar Top Gun|Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar Top Gun]], which simplified its busy four-register, seven-pointer dial with matte black and white and a massive 48 mm case. Then there were "Top Gun" and "Top Gun Miramar" versions of the [[IWC Big Pilot Top Gun 5019|Big Pilot's Watch]] and [[IWC Pilot's Watch Top Gun Chronograph|Pilot's Watch Chronograph]]. The Miramar versions, named for the former Marines flight school, have a gray case, green dial and strap, beige markers and accents, and a red inner hour track on the dial. All five watches remained in the catalog through [[2015]], with the Perpetual Calendar lasting one more year. The Top Gun line was refreshed for [[2016]] along with the launch of the [[IWC Mark XVIII|Mark XVIII]]. This was the first time the classic IWC Pilot's Watch got the "Top Gun" treatment, albeit in "Miramar" grey ceramic with green accents. The chronograph model was refreshed as well, with the [[IWC Pilot's Watch Top Gun Chronograph|Top Gun Chronograph, Ref. 3890]] reflecting the look (though not the "doppel") of the original in a 44 mm case. The "triple date" window was removed from the new Ref. 3890, and the "9" was restored to the dial. A Top Gun Miramar Chronograph was also available. The [[IWC Big Pilot Top Gun 5020|Big Pilot's Watch Top Gun, Ref. 5020]] was also new, with a 46 mm case and [[IWC 51111|Cal. 51111]]. This was retired after two years with no new Big Pilot's Watch Top Gun in the [[IWC Big Pilot's Watch 5010|Ref. 5010 Big Pilot line]]. Before [[SIHH]] in [[2019]], a new version of the venerable [[IWC Pilot's Watch Double Chronograph|Pilot's Watch Double Chronograph, Ref. 3718]] was released. This used the classic [[IWC 79230|Cal. 79230]] from the original [[2007]] Top Gun, and had a similar look, though the pushers and crown are now black and the case is constructed of IWC's [[Ceratanium]]. The new [[IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph Top Gun|Chronograph Top Gun, Ref. 3891]] was launched at SIHH, in both Top Gun black and a new sand-colored **Mojave Desert** look. This watch features a new 44.5 mm case and [[in-house]] [[IWC 69380|Cal. 69380]], which moves running seconds to 6 00. Also new is the [[IWC Pilot's Watch Automatic Top Gun|Pilot's Watch Automatic Top Gun, Ref. 3269]] with a 41 mm case derived from variants of the [[IWC Mark XVIII|Mark XVIII]] and IWC's new [[IWC 32110|Cal. 32110]]. The oddest new Top Gun model is the [[IWC Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar Top Gun|Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar Top Gun "Rodeo Drive", Ref. 5030]]. This is the latest Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar but combines the Top Gun's black ceramic case with the blue dial of the Le Petit Price edition. ===== References ===== * [[IWC Pilot's Watch Double Chronograph|Pilot's Watch Double Chronograph, Ref. IW3799-01]] (2007-2011), 46 mm, [[IWC 79230|Cal. 79230]] * [[IWC Big Pilot Top Gun 5019|Big Pilot's Watch Top Gun, Ref. IW5019-01]] (2012-2015), 48 mm, [[IWC 51111|Cal. 51111]] * [[IWC Big Pilot Top Gun 5019|Big Pilot's Watch Top Gun Miramar, Ref. IW5019-02]] (2012-2015), 48 mm, [[IWC 51111|Cal. 51111]] * [[IWC Big Pilot Top Gun 5020|Big Pilot Top Gun, Ref. 5020]] (2016-2017), 46 mm, [[IWC 51111|Cal. 51111]] * [[IWC Pilot's Watch Top Gun Chronograph|Pilot's Watch Chronograph Top Gun, Ref. IW3880-01]] (2012-2015) 46 mm * [[IWC Pilot's Watch Top Gun Chronograph|Pilot's Watch Chronograph Top Gun Miramar, Ref. IW3880-02]] (2012-2015) 46 mm * [[IWC Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar Top Gun|Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar Top Gun, Ref. IW5029-02]] (2012-2016), 48 mm, [[IWC 51564|Cal. 51564]] * [[IWC Pilot's Watch Mark XVIII|Top Gun Miramar, Ref. 3247]] (2016-2017), 41 mm, [[IWC 30110|Cal. 30110]] * [[IWC Pilot's Watch Top Gun Chronograph|Pilot's Watch Top Gun Chronograph, Ref. 3890]] (2016-2017) 44 mm * [[IWC Pilot's Watch Top Gun Chronograph|Pilot's Watch Top Gun Miramar Chronograph, Ref. 3890]] (2016) 44 mm * [[IWC Pilot's Watch Double Chronograph|Pilot's Watch Double Chronograph, Ref. 3718]] (2018), 44 mm, [[IWC 79230|Cal. 79230]] * [[IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph Top Gun|Pilot's Watch Chronograph Top Gun, Ref. 3891]] (2019) 44.5 mm, [[IWC 69380|Cal. 69380]] * [[IWC Pilot's Watch Automatic Top Gun|Pilot's Watch Automatic Top Gun, Ref. 3269]] (2019-present), 41 mm, [[IWC 32110|Cal. 32110]] * [[IWC Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar Top Gun|Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar Top Gun "Rodeo Drive", Ref. 5030]] (2019-present), 46.5 mm, [[IWC 52615|Cal. 52615]] ===== See Also ===== * [[IWC Pilot's Watch]] * [[IWC Big Pilot's Watch]] {{tag>IWC_models IWC_Pilot's_Watch_models IWC_Pilot's_Watch_Top_Gun_models}}