Description
Long the flagship model of IWC’s collection of Flieger watches, the Big Pilot’s Watch was first paired with the perpetual calendar complication in 2006 as small limited edition runs for two retail partners. Since then, more than 37 versions of this model have been released. Fifteen years after its introduction, the Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar in steel again enters IWC’s permanent collection, with the new reference IW503605 and its deep blue dial.
The Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar is a striking piece, measuring 46.2 mm in diameter and 15.4mm in thickness. Big is indeed the style here, but far from being an affectation, it is in keeping with the 1940 original, which was oversized due to the pocket watch calibre inside. Legibility was of the utmost import in the original and, even though it is slightly compromised by the perpetual calendar indications, the large dial of the Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar lends itself especially well to the complication.
The watch is powered by IWC’s in-house calibre 52615, IWC’s 7-day, twin-barrel automatic movement with a dial-side perpetual calendar module. The calibre, which is visible through the sapphire caseback, makes use of two technical innovations that are synonymous with IWC. The first is the Pellaton automatic winding system, a bi-directional pawl-based winding system crafted of ceramic for greater resistance to wear. The second is the Kurt Klaus perpetual calendar module. Developed in the 1980s by IWC’s former head watchmaker Kurt Klaus, the eponymous perpetual calendar system is incredibly user-friendly in that all of the indications, including the moon phase, can be adjusted in sync via the crown. Should the watch run down and be a couple of days behind, the correction is as simple as making a few turns of the crown. As the perpetual calendar does not rely on recessed pushers in the case flank for adjustment, the Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar is water-resistant to 6ATM/60m, which is further underscored by the use of a screw-in crown.
On offer today is an example from 2021 and is ins Excellent comdition with full box and papers.
