At Watches and Wonders 2022, IWC unveils two new Pilot's Watch Chronograph TOP GUN timepieces – Lake Tahoe and Woodland – featuring avant-garde ceramic cases
IWC's Pilot's Watches family welcomes two new chronograph pieces that highlight the brand's expertise in the field of advanced materials. While the Lake Tahoe features a serene white ceramic case and a black dial, the Woodland calls attention to its gallant dark green ceramic case and dial. "The white and green ceramic used for the cases illustrates the evolution of TOP GUN from a collection primarily focused on performance to a bold style statement and an expression of a distinct way of life," says Christoph Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen. With the Lake Tahoe White and the Woodland Green, IWC has imagined two entirely new ceramic colors. The manufacture has also clubbed these ceramic shades with other components made of different materials.
The IWC-manufactured 69380 caliber movement, which comes with a column-wheel design, drives both the timepiece and churns out a power reserve of around 46 hours, oscillating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour. This in-house automatic movement has powered a number of IWC's Pilot's Watches earlier, like the TOP GUN Edition 'Mojave Desert' and the 'Tophatters' chronograph.
With soft-iron inner cases for protection against magnetic fields and front glasses that are secured to stand firm against sudden drops in air pressure, the two pieces are truly designed for flying. Both the watches are water-resistant upto 60 meters and feature the iconic TOP GUN logo as an engraving on the caseback.
The Lake Tahoe and the Woodland are available through IWC boutiques and the annual production of the new models will be limited to 1,000 pieces each. Let's take a closer look at the two pieces, each the upshot of sophisticated manufacturing processes.
The White Beauty: Lake Tahoe Ref. IW389105
Inspiring the Ref. IW389105 is Lake Tahoe, a freshwater lake located near Naval Air Station Fallon, which is home to the US Navy's legendary TOP GUN school. Apart from the winter landscape around this lake, the white US Navy uniforms have also influenced its design.
The chronograph finds its home inside a 44.5mm Lake Tahoe White ceramic case. Contrasting against the poise of this white are the watch's pitch-black dial and black hands coated with luminescent material. While the pushers and crown are made of stainless steel, the watch comes with a titanium caseback. Complimenting the watch is its matching white rubber strap with a distinctive embossing and a folding clasp.
The Gorgeous Green: Woodland Ref. IW389106:
IWC's use of military colors in their TOP GUN models instantly bring to mind the Miramar references that came with anthracite dials and olive green straps. Following in the footsteps of these models, but packing its own unique charm, the Woodland reference also draws inspiration from the flight suits of naval aviators.
The brand-new Woodland Green color is used for the ceramic case and the dial, while the numerals and hour markers are printed in a lighter tone. The pushers and the caseback are made of matte black Ceratanium®. Developed by IWC, this sturdy material defines the amalgamation of the lightness and structural integrity of titanium and the hardness and scratch-resistance of ceramic. The timepiece has been paired with a green rubber strap with textile inlay and pin buckle.
IWC's Coloured Ceramic
It was in the 1980s when the manufacture started working with ceramic. It first used the hardy material in 1986 when it created the Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Ref. 3755. Within a decade, IWC unveiled another ceramic timepiece - the 1994 Pilot's Chronograph Ceramic Ref. 3705. Amidst all these developments, the luxury watchmaker kept experimenting with different colours and even produced a series of prototypes in white, blue, green, or even pink ceramic.
The production of coloured ceramic poses several challenges. Each coloured case in ceramic is a product of meticulous engineering where zirconium oxide is mixed with other metallic oxides to give the ceramic its colour. The craftspeople have to follow a strict sintering process for desired results and the efficiency of the results also depends on the purity of the raw materials.
Specifications
Pilot's Watch Chronograph TOP GUN Edition Lake Tahoe
Reference Number: IW389105
Diameter: 44.5mm
Case Material: Ceramic
Glass: Sapphire, convex, anti-reflective coating on both sides
Dial: Black
Movement: IWC-manufactured automatic caliber movement 69380
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4Hz)
Power Reserve: 46 hours (approx.)
Functions: Date and day display; chronograph function for hours, minutes, and seconds; small hacking seconds
Water Resistance: 60 meters (approx.)
Bracelet: White rubber strap with folding clasp
Pilot's Watch Chronograph TOP GUN Edition Woodland
Reference Number: IW389106
Diameter: 44.5mm
Case Material: Ceramic
Glass: Sapphire, convex, anti-reflective coating on both sides
Dial: Green
Movement: IWC-manufactured automatic caliber movement 69380
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4Hz)
Power Reserve: 46 hours (approx.)
Functions: Date and day display; chronograph function for hours, minutes, and seconds; small hacking seconds
Water Resistance: 60 meters (approx.)
Bracelet: Green rubber strap with textile inlay and pin buckle
For more details, visit IWC Schaffhausen.