THE COLORS OF TOP GUN:
COLORED CERAMIC WATCHES FROM IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN
Color codes from the world of naval aviation, translated into eye-catching ceramic colors and striking monochrome watches: the “Colors of TOP GUN” collection combines the functional design and high robustness of IWC’s Pilot’s Watches with the company’s extensive know-how in advanced materials and case engineering. Created in collaboration with PANTONE®, the ceramic colors in this collection result from a complex manufacturing process. With its extreme hardness and high resistance to corrosion, ceramic is the perfect material for a watch that always has to perform on top of its game.
DISCOVER THE COLLECTION
FROM INSPIRATION TO CERAMIC COLOR
When it comes to color, Pantone® is the go-to reference – and the global authority on color played a crucial role in bringing IWC’s Colors of TOP GUN collection to life. IWC’s creative specialists used the color matching tools from Pantone® to narrow down and concretize their inspiration for the ceramic color to be developed. IWC Schaffhausen and Pantone® then specified the final color as “IWC Oceana”.
A BOUNDLESS MARINE BLUE HUE, INSPIRED BY WATER
“Oceana” is a valued addition to IWC’s portfolio of ceramic colors. The marine blue hue takes inspiration from the Navy blue work uniform and the fathomless waters elite pilots fly over. Colored ceramics are created in a sophisticated manufacturing process by mixing zirconium oxide with other metallic oxides. Because the color changes during the sintering process, it takes countless trials to determine the right blend of raw materials. The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 TOP GUN Oceana combines a blue ceramic case with a blue dial and a matching rubber strap with a denim finish textile inlay. Inside the easy-to-wear 41-millimetre case, the IWC-manufactured 69380 calibre chronograph movement is at work.
INVISIBLE IN THE FOREST, AN EYE-CATCHER ON THE WRIST
The dark green ceramic case of the Pilot’s Watch Timezoner TOP GUN Woodland is inspired by the uniforms and flight suits of naval aviators and the vast forest landscapes these pilots fly over. This Timezoner® model impresses with its striking, monochromatic design. In a complex color engineering process, all components were carefully matched to the ceramic case – from the dial to the hands to the rubber strap with textile inlay. The case back ring and the crown are made of Ceratanium®. This IWC-developed material combines the structural integrity of titanium with a hardness and scratch resistance similar to ceramic. The patented Timezoner® function allows the wearer to set the watch to a different time zone by pressing down and turning the rotating bezel.
COLORED CERAMICS REPRESENT A FEAT OF ENGINEERING
IWC Schaffhausen is a pioneer in the use of ceramic for watches. In 1986, the company introduced the Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph, the world’s first wristwatch with a black zirconium oxide ceramic case. IWC Schaffhausen was also among the first watch brands to push forward the development of ceramic colors, such as white, blue, or green. Producing a watch case in colored ceramic is a feat of engineering. Zirconium oxide is combined with other metallic oxides to give the ceramic its color. As a result, each color requires different raw materials and a distinct mixing ratio. The specific parameters of the manufacturing process – such as the temperature and the duration of the sintering process – must be adapted to every color.
KING OF THE DESERT, EMPEROR OF THE SKIES
The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 TOP GUN Mojave Desert features a 41-millimetre case made of sand-colored ceramic. Engineered in collaboration with Pantone®, this color is inspired by the flight suits of naval aviators and the desert landscape around China Lake, home of the U.S. Navy’s TOPGUN flight school. Ceramic is remarkably light and scratch-resistant, making it the perfect material for a pilot’s watch. The brown dial with subdued indices and numerals and the beige rubber strap with a textile inlay match the ceramic color. The case back with the characteristic “TOP GUN” engraving, the crown, and the pushers are made of titanium. The IWC-manufactured 69380 calibre, a mechanical chronograph movement in classic column-wheel design, powers this TOP GUN model.
A STRIKING CONTRAST OF BLACK AND WHITE
The Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar TOP GUN Lake Tahoe features a 46.5-millimeter case in white ceramic. It is inspired by the winter landscape around freshwater Lake Tahoe, a mountainous area pilots from the nearby flight school frequently fly over. A pitch-black dial and black hands complete the high-contrast design. White ceramics are emblematic of IWC’s materials expertise. The company experimented with this color as early as the 1980s, shortly after introducing its first wristwatch with a black zirconium oxide ceramic case. The perpetual calendar is mechanically programmed to recognize the different month lengths and the leap years. The IWC-typical double moon phase display shows the moon as seen from the northern and southern hemispheres and will only deviate by one day after 577.5 years.
JET BLACK CERAMIC FOR A COOL AND CLASSIC LOOK
Since IWC Schaffhausen established its TOP GUN line in 2007, black zirconium oxide ceramic has been the signature material of this collection. The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 TOP GUN combines a “Jet Black” ceramic case in an ergonomic 41 millimetres size with a black dial and a black rubber strap. The crown, pushers, and case back made of titanium complement the sleek and sporty design. The IWC-manufactured 69380 calibre is housed in a soft-iron inner case to protect it from the effects of magnetic fields. The versatile sports watch offers a water resistance of 10 bar and is equipped with the IWC EasX-CHANGE® system, which makes it possible to exchange the strap quickly and easily without any tools.
FROM POWDERS TO CERAMIC BODIES
Ceramics are lighter and harder than steel, scratch-resistant and have a velvety surface. These properties make it ideal for use in wristwatches. Technical ceramics are based on polycrystalline powders such as silicates, aluminium oxide or silicon carbide. They are mixed with additives, shaped to a so-called “green body”, machined close to the final geometry and then sintered at high temperatures in a kiln. During this process, the additives vaporize and leave behind extremely stable ceramic bodies. The manufacture of a ceramic watch case is particularly demanding because the material shrinks by about a third during the baking process. This shrinkage must be factored in as early as the design phase.