====== IWC Pilot's Watch Top Gun Chronograph 3880 ====== The **Pilot's Watch Top Gun Chronograph** (Ref. 3880) is a [[pilot's watch]] [[automatic chronograph]] with [[flyback]] produced by [[IWC]] from [[2012]] through [[2016]]. ===== 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]]. In [[2007]], IWC launched the blacked-out [[IWC Top Gun]] line with a version of the famous Double Chronograph in black [[ceramic]]. The [[IWC Pilot's Watch Double Chronograph|Top Gun Double Chronograph Ref. 3799]] was replaced in [[2012]] by this new Ref. 3880. This coincided with the launch of a whole range of [[IWC Top Gun]] models that year, including the [[IWC Big Pilot Top Gun 5019|Big Pilot's Watch]] and [[IWC Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar Top Gun|Perpetual Calendar]] models. The Ref. 3880 boasted an [[in-house]] [[flyback]] movement, [[IWC 89365|Cal. 89365]], with two registers in the dial Running seconds at 6 00 and a 60 minute counter at 12 00. The date window was enlarged to resemble an aircraft altimeter, a controversial choice also found on other Pilot's Watch models that year. The Pilot's Watch Top Gun Chronograph was available in two primary versions The regular "Top Gun" featured a black [[ceramic]] case and blacked-out dial, while the "Top Gun Miramar" had a grey ceramic case, grey dial, and green strap. A limited-edition boutique model of Ref. 3880 had the ceramic black case of the Top Gun but with dark blue markings on the black dial. In [[2015]], IWC launched a range of models under the "Antoine De Saint Exupery Edition The Last Flight" banner. These had a brown dial with applied markings, no date window, and the initial "A" on the dial. All featured a bronze-colored ceramic case, with 17 pieces using [[platinum]] accents, 170 with [[rose gold]], and 1,700 with [[stainless steel]]. Although based on the same model reference, none bore the Top Gun branding. In [[2016]], the [[IWC Pilot's Watch Top Gun Chronograph 3890|Top Gun Chronograph, Ref. 3890]] was revised with a smaller case and simpler dial. Ref. 3880 was retired at this time. **References:** * IW3880-01 (2012-2016) [[Ceramic]] black case, black dial with white markings, "triple date" only, black textile strap * IW3880-02 "Miramar" (2012-2016) [[Ceramic]] grey case, green dial with beige markings, "triple date" only, green textile strap * IW3880-03 "Boutique" (2012-2016) [[Ceramic]] black case, black dial with blue markings, "triple date" only, black textile strap, limited edition of 500 pieces * IW3880-04 "Antoine De Saint Exupery Edition The Last Flight" (2015) [[IWC 89361|Cal. 89361]] [[Ceramic]] bronze case, brown dial with applied white markings, no date, brown leather strap, limited edition of 1,700 pieces * IW3880-05 "Antoine De Saint Exupery Edition The Last Flight" (2015) [[IWC 89361|Cal. 89361]] [[Ceramic]] and [[platinum]] bronze case, brown dial with applied white markings, no date, brown leather strap, limited edition of 17 pieces * IW3880-06 "Antoine De Saint Exupery Edition The Last Flight" (2015) [[IWC 89361|Cal. 89361]] [[Ceramic]] and [[rose gold]] bronze case, brown dial with applied white markings, no date, brown leather strap, limited edition of 170 pieces **Movement: ** * [[Automatic chronograph]] [[flyback]] calibre [[IWC 89365|Cal. 89365]] or [[IWC 89361|Cal. 89361]] **Case: ** * [[Stainless steel]] or [[ceramic]] * Ø 46 mm * H 16.5 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]] [[flyback]] hand * [[Date]] window at 3 00 * [[Small seconds]] at 6 00 * [[Chronograph minutes|Chronograph 60 minute counter]] at 12 00 **Bracelet: ** * Leather or textile strap **Production: ** * Production [[2012]] - [[2016]] * Predecessor [[IWC Pilot's Watch Double Chronograph]] * Successor [[IWC Pilot's Watch Top Gun Chronograph 3890]] ===== See Also ===== * [[IWC Pilot's Watch]] * [[IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph]] * [[IWC Pilot's Watch Top Gun]] {{tag>Watch_models IWC_Pilot's_Watch_models IWC_Pilot's_Watch_Chronograph_models}}