The IWC Big Pilot's Watch can trace its history back to the oversized timepieces produced for military aviators in 1940. These enormous pieces were originally designed for maximum legibility in a cockpit setting, and were designed to be worn on the pilot's thigh!
Today the Big Pilot's line is perhaps IWC's most identifiable wristwatch collection, featuring a variety of case and dial configurations suited for any taste — provided your wrist can handle the oversized dimensions!
This particular example is what you might consider the confluence of prototypical Big Pilot DNA and high complication — a thoroughbred with a 49mm ceramic case and an oversized 'onion' crown, but featuring a perpetual calendar within! It features a luminous matte grey-black dial with printed white Arabic numerals, recessed calendar indications, a matching luminous 'sword' handset, and a sapphire crystal.
Outfitted with a black canvas leather strap with a signed buckle, this beast is powered by an IWC self-winding movement with a substantial 168 hour power reserve! Further, this piece features the TOP GUN US NAVY moniker stamped on its caseback!
When you hear the term ‘pilot’s watch,’ there’s a healthy chance that what comes to mind is a timepiece from the International Watch Company ... and that's because of the ancestors that precede this watch.
That is to say: The Big Pilot represents the very essence of IWC.