News: IWC launches new “Racing Works” Big Pilot’s Watch
IWC’s pilot watches are legendary timepieces with a long and rich aviation history, but with this model the brand is keen to show that what works in the cockpit of an aeroplane can work equally well on terra firma behind the wheel of a race car.
Although this “Racing Works” Big Pilot’s watch carries all the signature elements of the Big Pilot’s range—including highly legible “fleiger”-style dial, conical crown and lozenge-shaped hands—the caseback is engraved with the logo of IWC Racing Works, the brand’s own racing team.
It is of, course, also the official engineering partner of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team and counts motor-racing supremos Lewis Hamilton and George Russell as brand ambassadors.
Its titanium case is a little large at 46.2mm but it does run on a movement with two spring barrels that hold a 168-hour (ie, one week) power reserve. This is displayed prominently at 3 o’clock while a more discreet date window is placed at 6 o’clock.
It’s also got an amagnetic soft iron core, like its IWC cousin, the Ingenieur.
This model is basically a version of IWC’s previous, much-loved Top Gun model, and when wearing this watch you could well find yourself uttering Maverick’s immortal words: “I feel the need—the need for speed.”
The “Racing Works” Big Pilot is available first exclusively at the IWC flagship stores in Zurich, Dubai, and Shanghai before being rolled out at selected IWC boutiques and online at IWC.com.
Case | Grade 5 titanium
Dimensions | 46.2mm
Dial | Blue with white numerals, luminescent grey hands and indices
Crystal | Convex AR-coated sapphire crystal
Water-resistance | 100m
Movement | Swiss IWC in-house caliber 52110, automatic
Power reserve | 7 days
Frequency | 28,800 VpH
Strap | Calf leather, blue
Functions | Hours, minutes, date display at 6 o'clock and power reserve indicator at 3 o'clock
RRP | £12,700
