The Journal
Let’s Go Flying! The 5th Special Edition “Patrouille Suisse”
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LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FIFTH MODEL DEDICATED TO THE SWISS AIR FORCE’S AEROBATIC TEAM AND IWC’S UNIQUE CONNECTION TO AVIATION
Matterhorn, Supercanard, Diamond or Shadow – these are the names of the impressive flight manoeuvres and formations performed by the Patrouille Suisse. For 60 years, the Swiss Air Force aerobatic team has captivated enthusiastic audiences all over the world - not only as the symbol of Swiss military aviation but also as an ambassador for Switzerland.
IWC AND PATROUILLE SUISSE
The idea for this dates back to 1959 when the Überwachungsgeschwader (Surveillance Wing) was tasked to train a double patrol with four aircraft for demonstration flights. The first real flight was performed in 1964 with a spectacular ballet of loops, turns and spins in the skies above the legendary and newly-opened Expo64 in Lausanne. At the same time, it celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Swiss Air Force.
It is therefore no surprise that IWC and the squadron soon became close - the Patrouille Suisse symbolizes in the air what IWC Schaffhausen watches represent on the wrist: excellence, precision and passion.
— The Pilot’s Watch Mark XX Patrouille Suisse Ref. IW328209 with matte 40-millimeter titanium case, grey dial and black hands with luminous material
FIFTH SPECIAL EDITION: THE PILOT’S WATCH MARK XX PATROUILLE SUISSE REF. IW328209
It is with this in mind that the Schaffhausen-based manufacturer is presenting its fifth special-edition Patrouille Suisse model this year. With reference number IW328209, the watch is housed in a 40-millimeter titanium case, has a generous 120 hours of autonomy and is limited to 250 examples. It is also a clear homage to the legendary IWC Mark 11 from 1948, one of the brand’s great icons, which was subsequently launched, almost unchanged, under the name IWC Mark XII and made available to the civilian market.
— The special edition has a grade 5 titanium case with a sandblasted, matte grey
— The Pilot’s Watch Mark XX Patrouille Suisse Ref. IW328209 features a titanium case back engraved with three F-5 E Tiger jets
— The watch is powered by the IWC-manufactured caliber 32111, an automatic movement with a 120-hour power reserve and a water resistance of up to 10 bar
— The fifth Special Edition “Patrouille Suisse” is limited to 250 pieces and has a power reserve of 120 hours
ORIGINS OF THE IWC PILOT’S WATCH
IWC’s connection to aviation dates back even further: In 1936, IWC presented the “Special Watch for Pilots,” its first-ever Pilot’s Watch. This device was important in aircraft of that time. It functioned at temperatures from -40 to +40 degrees Celsius and was powered by the anti-magnetic Caliber 83. This was followed in the 1940s by the “Big Pilot's Watch” with the Caliber 52 S.T. pocket watch movement which measures a massive 55 millimeters in diameter.
However, the design model used for all subsequent Patrouille Suisse models was the aforementioned IWC Navigator’s Wristwatch Mark 11 which was made for the British Royal Air Force in 1948 and popular with collectors. It had a central second hand, a feature that would become a regular component of Pilot’s Watches thanks to its improved legibility. Another essential feature: a contrasting black dial with luminous material that guaranteed legibility of the time even at night or in conditions with poor visibility.
PREDECESSORS OF THE COVETED PATROUILLE SUISSE SPECIAL EDITIONS
Marked by the introduction of the IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XII Special Edition “Patrouille Suisse,” the relationship between IWC and the Patrouille Suisse began quietly in 1994 and largely went unnoticed by the public. The IWC Mark XII was essentially nothing more than the civilian version of the IWC Mark 11, and the special edition remained exclusive: only pilots in the aerobatic team could buy the watch - their name was engraved on the back and the Patrouille Suisse signet was emblazoned on the dial.
While collectors naturally try to seek out these watches, they are very rare, as most pilots kept them for themselves and did not sell them on. It should also be noted that the prototype of this rare piece is owned by the IWC Museum, and although it is not normally on display, it can certainly be seen at various events.
— The new special edition joins a series of four predecessors - all dedicated to Patrouille Suisse
— Three F-5 E Tiger jets in formation, a “Tribute to Patrouille Suisse” and the individual limitation number are engraved on the titanium case back
ENGRAVING OF THREE F-5 E TIGER JETS
The second model was a Special Chronograph (Ref. 3717) in 2012, followed two years later by the Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph “Patrouille Suisse” (Ref. IW377805), and finally followed by the Big Pilot’s Watch Edition “Patrouille Suisse” (Ref. IW500910) in 2015. The latest edition can claim to be the most faithful interpretation of the IWC Mark 11 legacy, at least in terms of design and size. “Tribute to Patrouille Suisse” is engraved on the back, below which three stylized tiger jet planes can be seen in an ascending aerobatic formation.
Pilot’s Watches are generally an important pillar of the brand - and IWC has the sons of former IWC owner Ernst Jakob Homberger to thank for this. Both passionate pilots, the Homberger sons pushed for the production of Pilot’s Watches and thus laid the foundations for a success story. In other words: the IWC pilot’s watches were a labor of love owed to the passion of two brothers - but they were also a smart move, as IWC historian David Seyffer confirms. He explains that the early 1930s were economically very challenging for the watch industry: “So it was necessary to make new things in order to open up new markets.” And Pilot’s Watches are an example of this.
To this day, they are a pillar of the company. Few other brands have as many Pilot'’s Watches in their portfolio as IWC, with its almost 90-year heritage in this field. In addition to the classic Pilot family, there is the TOP GUN series, the Spitfire models and the IWC Petit Prince.
All images by Mathieu Bonnevie
The Pilot’s Watch Mark XII “Edition Patrouille Suisse” (1994), exclusively for pilots of the aerobatic team
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Special Chronograph “Patrouille Suisse” (Ref. 3717) from 2012 with stainless steel case and red tiger jet on the second hand
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Back of the Special Chronograph “Patrouille Suisse” (2012) with engraving on the case back
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Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph “Patrouille Suisse” (Ref. IW377805) from 2014
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Engraving of three F-5 E Tiger jets in formation on the stainless steel case back
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Big Pilot’s Watch Edition “Patrouille Suisse” (Ref. IW500910) from 2015
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Back of the Big Pilot’s Watch Edition “Patrouille Suisse” with engraving
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