Schaffhausen, 14th January 2019 – at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in Geneva, IWC Schaffhausen will be presenting a new Spitfire line in the Pilot’s Watches collection. To celebrate the unique engineering expertise of the designers of the legendary British fighter aircraft, all Spitfire watches feature IWC-manufactured calibres. The design is inspired by the puristic instrument design of the Mark 11. The iconic navigation watch was produced in Schaffhausen for the Royal Air Force from 1948 and was worn by many of the pilots and navigators serving at that time.
The Spitfire, designed by Reginald J. Mitchell, is one of the most sophisticated developments in the history of aviation. The iconic shape of the legendary British fighter aircraft is the result of a perfectly functional design; its elliptical wings not only make the Spitfire extraordinarily agile and easy to manoeuvre, they also give it its unique silhouette. The characteristic instrument design of IWC’s Pilot’s Watches was likewise the result of engineering to the specific requirements of military aviation. “Just like the Spitfire, our watch collection of the same name also perfectly combines form and function. The design is inspired by the puristic instrument design of the iconic Mark 11 navigation watch. This watch demonstrates our engineering expertise, as we have integrated high-quality IWC-manufactured calibres into all Spitfire models,” explains Christoph Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen.
All spitfire models with IWC-manufactured calibres
For the first time, IWC has integrated a chronograph movement from the 69000 calibre family into its pilot’s watches. The 69380 IWC-manufactured calibre powers two Spitfire chronographs with a reduced case diameter of 41 millimetres. Two high-quality automatic movements from the 82000 calibre family are also used in the pilot’s watches for the first time. Both have been enhanced with complications:
The new 82760 IWC-manufactured calibre with the patented Timezoner mechanism, the new 82710 IWC-manufactured calibre with a UTC function. The reference with a perpetual calendar is powered by an IWC-manufactured movement from the 52000 calibre family. The IWC 52615 manufacture calibre has a Pellaton winding with ceramic components and two barrels.
Finally, IWC has integrated an IWC-manufactured calibre from the 32000 calibre family for the first time: The 32110 IWC-manufactured calibre powers two Spitfire automatic watches. With their robustness and reliability, all IWC-manufactured movements embody the high level of engineering expertise at IWC.
Two different design worlds
The Spitfire line features two different designs. “The colour scheme of the watch design, with its stainless steel case, its black dial and its green textile strap, is reminiscent of the cockpit of a Spitfire. The bronze case, olive green dials and brown calf leather straps give the other models a unique character. Over time, the bronze develops a special patina. The Spitfire is engraved on the back of the watches with a closed case,” explains Christian Knoop, Creative Director at IWC Schaffhausen.
— Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Spitfire (ref. IW387903)
The Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Spitfire (Ref. IW503601) features a perpetual calendar and is limited to 250 watches.
- Bronze case, olive green dial, gold-plated hands, brown calf leather strap
The 52615 IWC-manufactured calibre has a power reserve of seven days. The heavy-duty components of the Pellaton winding are made from wear-resistant ceramic. The perpetual calendar identifies different month lengths and leap years automatically and will work until 2100 without needing any correction. Since all displays are perfectly synchronised, the watch can be easily adjusted via the crown. The double moon display shows the moon in the correct position in the northern and southern hemisphere and takes 577.5 years to require adjustment by one day. The see-through sapphire glass back allows the user to view the highly embellished IWC-manufactured calibre.
The Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Spitfire Edition “The Longest Flight” (Ref. IW395501) combines the patented Timezoner mechanism with an IWC-manufactured automatic movement and is limited to 250 watches.
- Stainless steel case, black dial, rhodium-plated hands, green textile strap
This special edition is dedicated to the “Silver Spitfire – The Longest Flight” project. It has been specially developed for pilots Steve Boultbee Brooks and Matt Jones to coincide with their flight around the world in a Spitfire. The watch can be set to a different time zone by means of a simple rotational movement of the bezel. The hour hand, the 24-hour display and the date rotate automatically at the same time. The 24-hour display has been designed as a rotating disc beneath the dial. This means that the dial moves closer to the front glass, making it easier to read. The newly developed 82760 IWC-manufactured calibre has a Pellaton winding with components made from wear-resistant ceramic and boasts a power reserve of 60 hours.
With the Pilot’s Watch UTC Spitfire Edition “MJ271” (Ref. IW327101), IWC has integrated the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) function into an IWC-manufactured calibre for the first time and this model is limited to 271 watches.
- Bronze case, olive green dial, gold-plated hands, brown calf leather strap
Used in aviation for all communication and navigation purposes, the UTC function makes it easy to set a second time zone. When turning the crown when in its central position, the hour hand moves forward or backward in hourly increments. If the dial crosses the International Date Line, the date display changes automatically. The time in the wearer’s home country can be read via the curved UTC display in the top half of the dial. The 82710 IWC-manufactured calibre has a Pellaton winding with ceramic components and boasts a power reserve of 60 hours.
For the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Spitfire (Ref. IW387901 and IW387902), IWC has integrated a chronograph movement from the 69000 calibre family into its pilot’s watches for the first time.
- Stainless steel case, black dial, rhodium-plated hands, green textile strap (Ref. IW387901)
- Bronze case, olive green dial, gold-plated hands, brown calf leather strap (Ref. IW387902)
IWC is presenting its first Pilot’s Chronograph with a movement from the 69000 calibre family and a reduced case diameter of just 41 millimetres. This calibre family, which was presented for the first time in 2016, is one of the most important developments in IWC-manufactured movements in IWC's early history. The 69380 IWC-manufactured calibre is a robust chronograph movement with a classic column wheel design. The stopped hours and minutes are displayed on the two subdials at “9 o’clock” and “12 o’clock”. The pawl-winding system, which winds up on both sides, boasts a power reserve of 46 hours. An inner cage made from soft iron protects the movement against magnetic fields.
In the Pilot’s Watch Automatic Spitfire (Ref. IW326801 and IW326802), IWC has integrated an IWC-manufactured movement from the new 32000 calibre family into its pilot's watches for the first time.
- Stainless steel case, black dial, rhodium-plated hands, green textile strap (Ref. IW326801)
- Bronze case, olive green dial, gold-plated hands, brown calf leather strap (Ref. IW326802)
The 32110 IWC-manufactured calibre is making its debut in this timepiece. The robust automatic movement features a pawl-winding system that winds up on both sides and boasts a power reserve of 72 hours. The watch has a comfortable diameter of 39 millimetres. An inner cage made from soft iron protects the movement against magnetic fields.
Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Spitfire
Ref. IW503601
Features
- Mechanical movement
- Pellaton automatic winding
- Power reserve display
- Perpetual calendar with displays for the date, day, month, year in four digits and perpetual moon phase for both northern and southern hemispheres
- Small hacking seconds
- See-through sapphire glass back
- Screw-in crown
- Glass secured against displacement by drops in air pressure
- Limited to 250 watches
Movement
- IWC-manufactured calibre: 52615
- Frequency: 28,800 vph / 4 Hz
- Jewels: 54
- Power reserve: 7 days (168 h)
- Winding: Automatic
Watch
- Materials: Bronze case, titanium case back, olive green dial, gold-plated hands, brown calf leather strap
- Crystal: Sapphire, arched edge, anti-reflective coating on both sides
- Water-resistance: 6 bar
- Diameter: 46.2 mm
- Height: 15.3 mm
Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Spitfire Edition “The Longest Flight”
Ref. IW395501
Features
- Mechanical movement
- Pellaton automatic winding
- Date display
- Central hacking seconds
- Timezoner function for setting another time zone using the rotating bezel
- 24-hour display for Worldtimer function
- Screw-in crown
- Glass secured against displacement by drops in air pressure
- Special back engraving
- Limited to 250 watches
Movement
- IWC-manufactured calibre: 82760
- Frequency: 28,800 vph / 4 Hz
- Jewels: 22
- Power reserve: 60 h
- Winding: Automatic
Watch
- Materials: Stainless steel case, black dial, rhodium-plated hands, green textile strap
- Crystal: Sapphire, arched edge, anti-reflective coating on both sides
- Water-resistance: 6 bar
- Diameter: 46 mm
- Height: 15.2 mm
Pilot’s Watch UTC Spitfire Edition “MJ271”
Ref. IW327101
Features
- Mechanical movement
- Pellaton automatic winding
- Date display
- Central hacking seconds
- Second time zone
- Soft-iron inner case for protection against magnetic fields
- Screw-in crown
- Glass secured against displacement by drops in air pressure
- Special back engraving
- Limited to 271 watches
Movement
- IWC-manufactured calibre: 82710
- Frequency: 28,800 vph / 4 Hz
- Jewels: 22
- Power reserve: 60 h
- Winding: Automatic
Watch
- Materials: Bronze case, titanium case back, olive green dial, gold-plated hands, brown calf leather strap
- Crystal: Sapphire, arched edge, anti-reflective coating on both sides
- Water-resistance: 6 bar
- Diameter: 41 mm
- Height: 14.2 mm
Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Spitfire
Ref. IW387901 · IW387902
Features
- Mechanical movement
- Chronograph function for hours, minutes and seconds
- Date and day display
- Small hacking seconds
- Soft-iron inner case for protection against magnetic fields
- Screw-in crown
- Glass secured against displacement by drops in air pressure
- Special back engraving
Movement
- IWC-manufactured calibre: 69380
- Frequency: 28,800 vph / 4 Hz
- Jewels: 33
- Power reserve: 46 h
- Winding: Automatic
Watch
- Materials
Ref. IW387901: Stainless steel case, black dial, rhodium-plated hands, green textile strap
Ref. IW387902: Bronze case, titanium case back, olive green dial, gold-plated hands, brown calf leather strap
- Crystal: Sapphire, arched edge, anti-reflective coating on both sides
- Water-resistance: 6 bar
- Diameter: 41 mm
- Height: 15.3 mm
Pilot’s Watch Automatic Spitfire
Ref. IW326801 · IW326802
Features
- Mechanical movement
- Date display
- Central hacking seconds
- Soft-iron inner case for protection against magnetic fields
- Screw-in crown
- Glass secured against displacement by drops in air pressure
- Special back engraving
Movement
- IWC-manufactured calibre: 32110
- Frequency: 28,800 vph / 4 Hz
- Jewels: 21
- Power reserve: 72 h
- Winding: Automatic
Watch
- Materials:
Ref. IW326801: Stainless steel case, black dial, rhodium-plated hands, green textile strap
Ref. IW326802: Bronze case, titanium case back, olive green dial, gold-plated hands, brown calf leather strap
- Crystal: Sapphire, arched edge, anti-reflective coating on both sides
- Water-resistance: 6 bar
- Diameter: 39 mm
- Height:
Ref. IW326801: 10.8 mm
Ref. IW326802: 10.6 mm
Selected for You
IWC Introduces A New Top Gun Line With Innovative Case Materials
At SIHH 2019 in Geneva, IWC Schaffhausen will be presenting a new TOP GUN line in the Pilot’s Watches collection. Learn more about the new collection here.
IWC Introduces Le Petit Prince Special Editions
At SIHH 2019 in Geneva, IWC Schaffhausen will be presenting a new Le Petit Prince line in the Pilot’s Watches collection. Learn more about the new collection here.
IWC at SIHH 2019
The Journal brings you a special curated selection of stories for SIHH 2019. Browse the line-up below.
