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| — | iwc_big_pilot_s_watch [03.07.2022 15:35] (current) – created - external edit 127.0.0.1 |
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| | ====== IWC Big Pilot's Watch ====== |
| | {{wst>image_cr|IWC|Grosse Fliegeruhr|IWC Big Pilot's Watch, [[stainless steel]]}} |
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| | {{wst>image_cr|IWC|Grosse Fliegeruhr Weissgold|IWC Big Pilot's Watch, [[white gold]]}} |
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| | The **Big Pilot's Watch** (**Grosse Fliegeruhr**) is an over-sized [[pilot's watch]] from [[IWC]], produced during World War II and again since [[2002]]. Note that IWC referred to this model simply as **Big Pilot** until [[2016]], but newer models are called **Big Pilot's Watch** in English. |
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| | ===== History ===== |
| | 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. Some wore "[[marriage]] watches" which were essentially pocketwatches with lugs welded to the case for in-flight observation. 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 encasing the pocketwatch movement, [[IWC 52|Cal. 52 T.S.C.]] The original "Big Pilot" 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. |
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| | After the war, IWC responded to the British Ministry of Defense's request for a "[[Mark X]]" pilot's watch with their own [[IWC Pilot's Watch Mark X]], updating this in [[1948]] with a simpler dial and hands for the [[IWC Pilot's Watch Mark XI|Mark XI]]. This became a legendary collectible despite not officially being offered for consumer sale. The company created [[IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph Mechaquartz|a consumer chronograph model]] in [[1988]] and followed up by a regular-production "flieger", the [[IWC Pilot's Watch Mark XII|Mark XII]], in [[1993]]. |
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| | 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. So it was no surprise in [[2002]] that IWC would resurrect the "Big Pilot" once again. launched at [[SIHH]] in April [[2002]], the [[IWC Big Pilot 5002|Big Pilot, Ref. 5002]] was a new flagship model. It featured the [[in-house]] [[automatic]] [[IWC 5011|Cal. 5011]], which used the company's trademark [[Pellaton winding system]] and boasted a [[seven-day power reserve]]. Notable differences from the original are the smaller 46 mm case, [[central seconds]], a [[date window]] at 6 00, and a [[power reserve indicator]] at 3 00. Befitting a flagship timepiece, limited-edition [[platinum]] examples were also created. |
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| | IWC updated the movement and expanded the line in [[2006]] with the replacement [[IWC Big Pilot 5004|Big Pilot, Ref. 5004]]. The new [[IWC 51110|Cal. 51110]] operated at 21,600 A/h, still not [[high-beat]] but better than the stately 18,000 A/h in the original. Changes were also made to the dial, which lost the numeral 9 (for balance) but gained partial numerals at 2 and 4. The strap was now made of alligator leather rather than Santoni buffalo. A vast number of limited editions were created, many for boutiques or retailers with cases of rose gold, white gold, and platinum. One notable reference is the [[IWC Big Pilot 5004|Big Pilot "DFB", Ref. IW5004-32]] which included [[small seconds]] at 9 00 thanks to [[IWC 51011|Cal. 51011]]. Another series of 12 used non-IWC watch movements as part of a special watchmaker's project. |
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| | In [[2006]] IWC created the limited-production [[IWC Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar|Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar]]. It housed IWC's [[IWC 51564|Cal. 51564]], with seven-day power reserve and a four-digit year display at 7 30. Subdials at 3, 6, 9, and 12 crowded the dial, obscuring the intent of the Big Pilot, but there was no denying the appeal of this special movement. a "single moon" perpetual calendar was created in [[2016]], [[IWC Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar|Ref. 5038]], with [[IWC 52610|Cal. 52610]]. The current perpetual calendar model uses [[IWC 52615|Cal. 52615]] and is sold in both [[IWC Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar Top Gun|Top Gun]] and [[IWC Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar Spitfire|Spitfire]] versions. |
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| | The watch was updated slightly in [[2012]] with a new crown that improved water resistance to become [[IWC Big Pilot 5009|Big Pilot, Ref. 5009]] with [[IWC 51111|Cal. 51111]]. The dial was also modified, with the applied markers on the hours replaced by luminous painting for a more traditional look. A black background date wheel was also added, available on black and rhodium dials, with the others using a white date wheel as on the Ref. 5004. The [[IWC Big Pilot 5009|Big Pilot "Patrouille Suisse", Ref. IW5009-10]] used [[IWC 51011|Cal. 51011]] for small seconds at 9 00. The Ref. 5009 remains in production to this day as the [[IWC Big Pilot's Watch Spitfire]]. |
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| | Another [[2012]] addition was the larger 48 mm [[IWC Big Pilot Top Gun 5019|Big Pilot Top Gun]] and [[IWC Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar Top Gun|Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar Top Gun]]. This was the start of a new "Top Gun" sub-model for the IWC Pilot's Watch line, with large ceramic cases and modern military-inspired styling, though none are as large as this today. Four years later, IWC created a smaller 46 mm [[IWC Big Pilot Top Gun 5020|Big Pilot Top Gun, Ref. 5020]]. |
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| | In [[2016]], IWC revisited the original with the massive 55 mm [[IWC Big Pilot Heritage 55|Big Pilot Heritage 55, Ref. 5104]]. The hand-winding [[IWC 98300|Cal. 98300]] with [[small seconds]] is based on the original [[IWC 98|Cal. 98]] found in the early [[IWC Portuguese]] watches. Just 100 examples of the Heritage 55 were produced in titanium. A more-wearable 48 mm [[IWC Big Pilot Heritage 48|Big Pilot Heritage 48, Ref. 5103]] was also produced that year, using the more-modern [[eight days]] [[IWC 59215|Cal. 59215]]. 1,000 pieces in titanium were sold. |
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| | IWC also created an [[annual calendar]] version in [[2016]] with [[IWC 52850|Cal. 52850]], the 46 mm [[IWC Big Pilot's Watch Annual Calendar|Big Pilot's Watch Annual Calendar, Ref. 5027]]. These feature [[power reserve indicator]] at 3 00, [[small seconds]] at 9 00, and separate windows for month, date, and day at 12 00. This model remains in production as of 2019. |
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| | [[2018]] was another big year for the Big Pilot's Watch, with the special [[IWC Big Pilot's Watch Big Date|Big Date, Ref. 5105]] launched in limited editions with [[IWC 59235|Cal. 59235]]. More importantly, the base Big Pilot was updated with the [[double barrel]] [[IWC 52110|Cal. 52110]] to become the new [[IWC Big Pilot 5010|Big Pilot's Watch, Ref. 5010]]. Although visually similar, this new movement keeps better time when fully-wound. Another watch creating a splash at the end of the year was the [[IWC Big Pilot Constant-Force Tourbillon|Big Pilot Constant-Force Tourbillon, Ref. 5903]] with [[IWC 94805|Cal. 94805]]. |
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| | ===== References ===== |
| | *See Also [[IWC Pilot's Watch]] |
| | * [[IWC Big Pilot|Big Pilot]] (1940), 55 mm, [[IWC 52|Cal. 52]] |
| | * [[IWC Big Pilot 5002|Big Pilot, Ref. IW5002]] (2002-2006), 46.2 mm, [[IWC 5011|Cal. 5011]] ("transitional" models use [[IWC 51110|Cal. 51110]]) |
| | * [[IWC Big Pilot 5004|Big Pilot, Ref. IW5004]] (2006-2011), 46.2 mm, [[IWC 51110|Cal. 51110]] (some models with [[IWC 51011|Cal. 51011]] with small seconds at 9 00) |
| | * [[IWC Big Pilot 5003|Big Pilot, Ref. 5003]] (2008), 46.2 mm, [[IWC 64900|Cal. 64900]], LE of 12 examples "Markus Bühler" |
| | * [[IWC Big Pilot 5009|Big Pilot, Ref. 5009]] (2012-present), 46.2 mm, [[IWC 51111|Cal. 51111]] (some models with [[IWC 51011|Cal. 51011]] with small seconds at 9 00) |
| | * [[IWC Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar|Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar, Ref. 5026/5028]] (2006-2013), 46 mm, [[IWC 51564|Cal. 51564]] |
| | * [[IWC Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar Top Gun|Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar Top Gun, Ref. 5029]] (2012, 2016), 48 mm, [[IWC 51564|Cal. 51564]] |
| | * [[IWC Big Pilot Top Gun 5019|Big Pilot Top Gun, Ref. 5019]] (2012-2013), 48 mm, [[IWC 51111|Cal. 51111]] |
| | * [[IWC Big Pilot Top Gun 5020|Big Pilot Top Gun, Ref. 5020]] (2016), 46 mm, [[IWC 51111|Cal. 51111]] |
| | * [[IWC Big Pilot's Watch Annual Calendar|Big Pilot's Watch Annual Calendar, Ref. 5027]] (2016-present), 46.2 mm, [[IWC 52850|Cal. 52850]] |
| | * [[IWC Big Pilot Heritage 48|Big Pilot Heritage 48, Ref. 5103]] (2016), 48 mm, [[IWC 59215]], limited to 1,000 pieces |
| | * [[IWC Big Pilot Heritage 55|Big Pilot Heritage 55, Ref. 5104]] (2016), 55 mm, [[IWC 98300]], limited to 100 pieces |
| | * [[IWC Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar|Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar, Ref. 5038]] (2016), 46 mm, [[IWC 52610|Cal. 52610]] |
| | * [[IWC Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar Top Gun|Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar Top Gun, Ref. 5030]] (2019-present), 46.5 mm, [[IWC 52615|Cal. 52615]] |
| | * [[IWC Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar Spitfire|Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar Spitfire, Ref. 5036]] (2019-present), 46.2 mm, [[IWC 52615|Cal. 52615]] |
| | * [[IWC Big Pilot 5010|Big Pilot, Ref. 5010]] (2017-present), 46.2 mm, [[IWC 52110|Cal. 52110]] |
| | * [[IWC Big Pilot's Watch Big Date|Big Pilot's Watch Big Date, Ref. 5105]] (2018), 46.2 mm, [[IWC 59235|Cal. 59235]] |
| | * [[IWC Big Pilot Constant-Force Tourbillon|Big Pilot Constant-Force Tourbillon, Ref. 5903]] (2018-present), 46 mm, [[IWC 94805|Cal. 94805]] |
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| | ===== Literature ===== |
| | *Die Pilot's watches von IWC; Authors [[Christian Pfeiffer-Belli]], [[Rüdiger Bucher]]; ISBN 3871880701 (engl. version ISBN 387188068X ) |
| | *[[IWC-Uhren. Die "Schaffhauser" and ihre Geschichte]]; Author [[Reinhard Meis]]; ISBN 3853782531 |
| | *IWC, International Watch Co. Schaffhausen, Engl. ed.; Authors Hans-F. Tölke, Jürgen King; ISBN 3906500152 |
| | *Die Grande Complication von IWC; Author Manfred Fritz von Edition Stemmle, Kilchb.; ISBN 3908162076 |
| | *Armbanduhren Spezial IWC-Geschichte, Design, Technik; Author Jörg M. Mehltretter; ISBN 3898800458 |
| | *IWC - Die Noblen aus der Schweiz. Handbuch für den Uhrensammler; Author Jörg M. Mehltretter; ISBN 3898802272 |
| | *IWC, International Watch Co. Schaffhausen, Luxusausg. Engl. Ed.; Authors Hans-F. Tölke, Jürgen King ISBN 3906500160 |
| | *Die Pilot's watches von IWC. Deutsche Ausgabe - version IWC; Authors Rüdiger Bucher, Christian Pfeiffer-Belli; ISBN 387188071X |
| | *[[Das ZEITGEFÜHL-Uhrenbuch]]; Author [[Gerd-Lothar Reschke]]; ISBN 3-938607-61-0 |
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| | ===== Watch video ===== |
| | * [[IWC Big Pilot's Watch video]] |
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| | ===== Weblinks ===== |
| | * [[http://diveintowatches.com/reviews-i-r/iwc-big-pilot/|The Uber-Flieger]] (R. Ruegger: Dive into Watches, in German) |
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| | ===== See Also ===== |
| | * [[IWC Pilot's Watch]] |
| | * [[IWC Pilot's Watch Spitfire]] |
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| | {{tag>Watch_models Watch_classics IWC_models IWC_Pilot's_Watch_models IWC_Big_Pilot's_Watch_models}} |
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