A selection of eleven exquisite Big Pilot’s Watches are currently on display in IWC’s newest concept store HAUS in partnership with Mercedes-Benz in Hong Kong
The Big Pilot’s Watch. What began as a functional military watch has become one of the most renowned models in the industry. In 1940, the historic Big Pilot’s Watch (52-calibre T.S.C) was the largest wristwatch ever made at IWC and remains a legendary timepiece ever since. In 2002, the Big Pilot’s Watch was reborn and IWC re-established its Big Pilot’s Watch tradition launching new editions that has become a source of pleasure to many collectors all around the world.
With special thanks to Mr. SC Fong, we have exhibited 11 of his favourite Big Pilot Watches from his personal collection at HAUS – a new experiential center in partnership with Mercedes-Benz. Visit HAUS Hong Kong to see the timepieces.
HAUS
Shops 38 & 40, G/F, 48 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong
Open Monday – Saturday, 11am – 7pm
IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Cellini (Ref. IW502606)
IWC Big Pilot’s Watch “Bartorelli” (Ref. IW500411)
IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Edition “Bühler” (Ref. IW500301)
IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Father and Son (Ref. IW500413)
IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Edition “Boutique Los Angeles” (Ref. IW500428)
IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar “Boutique Edition” (Ref. IW502618)
IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Edition Antoine de Saint Exupéry (Ref. IW502617)
IWC Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 55 (Ref. IW510401)
IWC Big Pilot’s Watch “Safari” Tribute to 5002 (Ref. IW501007)
IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Annual Calendar Edition “150 Years” (Ref. IW502708)
IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Edition “Black Carbon” (Ref. IW506101)
SC Fong’s collection of rare IWC Big Pilot’s Watches I
SC Fong’s collection of rare IWC Big Pilot’s Watches II
Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar “Cellini” (Ref. IW502606) - 2006
The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar “Cellini” was created in 2006 for New York’s Cellini Jewelers, limited to 50 pieces. It was the first Big Pilot’s watch with a titanium case. Thanks to the aerospace-grade titanium case, the Big Pilot wears light and easy, and remains the only Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar model ever created in titanium.
Big Pilot’s Watch “Bartorelli” (Ref. IW500411) - 2007
The Italian retailer Bartorelli was founded in 1882 and has a high reputation in jewelry and various points of sale in northern Italy. Released to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Italian jeweler, the Bartorelli edition is limited to 50 pieces and was one of the first Big Pilot watch featuring a titanium case and a small second at the 9 o’clock position.
Big Pilot’s Watch Edition “Bühler” (Ref. IW500301) - 2008
The Big Pilot’s Watch Edition “Markus Bühler” is an eye-catcher. Despite being limited to 12 pieces only, this extremely rare timepiece has become a design well known among watch aficionados worldwide. A small-dimensioned aircraft engine rotates as a seconds indicator, and the heart of the watch is made up of the spring barrel and ratchet wheel, which are skeletonised in the form of blade wheels and, in combination with an applied metal ring, represent an aircraft turbine engine in a small format.
Watches have always been one of the most personal of family gifts. Linked as they often are with a special memory, a joyous occasion or an unforgettable piece of family history, their value goes far beyond that of an everyday object. In 2008 IWC offered all fathers and sons the “IWC Pilot’s Watches for father and son”. The Big Pilot’s Watch was for the father, and the Pilot’s Watch Mark XVI for the son. The external similarities are in the family: the same pale rhodium-plated dial with the cockpit-style design, the diamond-shaped crown and the brown leather strap.
Big Pilot’s Watch Edition “Boutique Los Angeles” (Ref. IW500428) - 2010
In the history of the Big Pilot’s Watch, IWC Boutiques offered special editions with different color codes. Having a black dial with blue numerals and a black alligator strap with rivets and blue stitching, the Big Pilot’s Watch “Boutique Los Angeles” (2010) was limited to 50 pieces.
Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar “Boutique Edition” (Ref. IW502618) - 2010
The Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar “Boutique Edition” 2010 is not only extremely unusual to look at; it is also limited to 250 pieces and was available only in selected IWC boutiques. The striking orange of the luminescent hands and indices against the dark background colorfully underscores the essential qualities of this Big Pilot’s Watch. Nevertheless, the characteristic cockpit-style design is accompanied in this case by the delicate displays of the perpetual calendar that puts this rare timepiece in a class of its own.
BIG PILOT’S WATCH PERPETUAL CALENDAR EDITION ANTOINE DE SAINT EXUPÉRY (REF. IW502617) - 2011
For the first time in history, the rarely produced Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar joins the limited Pilot’s Watch collection in which IWC honors the passionate pilot and poet Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The series pays tribute to the author’s outstanding literary oeuvre. The special edition in 18-carat red gold was limited to 500 watches.
It was the watch for collectors and lovers of authentic pilot’s watches: the 2016 launched Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 55 with a case measuring a massive 55 millimeters in diameter. The highly rare watch was available in a limited edition of just 100 watches. The size was the same like the historic 52-calibre T. S. C. Big Pilot’s Watch launched in 1940 and till then was the largest wristwatch ever built in Schaffhausen. With less than 150 grams, the titanium case of the 2016 edition was not quite as heavy as the original stainless-steel version.
It started with an Instagram post of IWC CEO Chris Grainger-Herr in June 2017 wearing a one-off 5002 in matte titanium when visiting South Africa. The reaction of the collectors was incredible: they wanted that watch and named it “Safari”. IWC decided in September 2017 that a special edition of 100 would be manufactured for release in Spring 2018. The watches sold immediately. The timepiece is visually similar to the 5002 but features a titanium case.
For 85 years, IWC Schaffhausen’s Pilot’s Watches’ purist design has stylishly brought the dream of flying to wearers’ wrists. The Big Pilot’s Watch Annual Calendar Edition “150 Years” is the only model in the 2018 IWC Jubilee collection that is equipped with an annual calendar. Introduced in 2015 for the first time the useful complication has a display for the month, date and day in three separate windows on the dial. The watch, housed in a simple stainless-steel case, has a captivating, blue lacquered dial as well as rhodium-plated hands.
In 2020 IWC for the first time launched a Big Pilot’s watch in a Black Carbon case. IWC’s Big Pilot’s Watch Edition “Black Carbon” was limited to just 100 pieces, exclusively available at IWC boutiques. The idea of this watch was born in a Design Workshop with Hong Kong IWC collectors that gave their contribution for the design. Mr. SC Fong played an important role in the creative process with his fellow collector friends . Fourteen watches with a red “10” on the date wheel that was a reminiscence to the 10th anniversary of the Hong Kong Boutique were exclusively reserved for the participants of the design workshop.
Discover the new IWC Big Pilot’s Watches
Big Pilot’s Watch Big Date Spitfire Edition “Mission Accomplished” (IW510506)
Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Spitfire (IW503601)
Big Pilot’s Watch Annual Calendar Spitfire (IW502702)
Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Edition “Rodeo Drive” (IW503001)
Big Pilot’s Watch Heritage (IW501004)
Big Pilot’s Watch (IW501001)
Big Pilot’s Watch Edition “Le Petit Prince” (IW501002)
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