85 years ago, IWC designed its first Pilot’s Watch, and since then it has pursued an in-depth dialogue with pilots, in order to understand precisely what their needs are. Fundamental dialogue to develop watches conforming to military specifications, such as the Mark 11 made for the British Royal Air Force. Since 2018, IWC has been licensed to produce replica watches for all U.S. air units. Navy and Marine Corps, including Blue Angels® squadrons, 247 active and 100 inactive. Since then, IWC has partnered with over a dozen squadrons to create special editions available exclusively to current and former members. And today it presents three new chronographs from its Pilot’s Watches collection, directly inspired by the brand’s collaboration with the U.S. squadrons. Navy, making these models available for the first time even to non-pilots. The annual production of these chronographs will be limited to 500 pieces per edition. Let’s see them in more detail.

Strike Fighter Squadron 27, known as “Royal Maces”, is located at the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Japan. The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “Royal Maces” is inspired by the exclusively military edition developed by replica IWC for squadron members. The chronograph features a black zirconium oxide ceramic case. Buttons and crown are in Ceratanium®. The dial features the “Maces” logo at 6 o’clock and the day and date indication in yellow. Details such as the stitching of the strap, the tip of the chronograph seconds hand and the small seconds also take up the characteristic yellow color of the “Maces”. On the grade 5 titanium caseback, next to “VFA-27”, the squadron’s official name, is the engraving of his F / A-18E Super Hornet jet.

Naval Air Station Lemoore, California is the home of The Strike Fighter Squadron 14, nicknamed “Tophatters”. The VFA-14, born in 1919, is the squadron of the U.S. Oldest Navy still in business. The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “Tophatters” has a black zirconium oxide ceramic case. The chronograph pushers and crown are in Ceratanium®. This material developed by IWC is as light and robust as titanium and at the same time as hard and scratch resistant as ceramic. The squadron logo, with the classic top hat, is visible on the dial at 6 o’clock and is engraved on the titanium caseback. The indication of the day and date, the tip of the chronograph seconds hand, the small seconds and the stitching of the black calfskin strap add further details in the characteristic red of the squadron.

The “Blue Angels®” U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, born in 1946, currently includes 141 members of the Navy and Marines. The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “Blue Angels®” is the third watch derived from the IWC license agreement. Inspired by the military-only watch developed for members of the Pensacola Blue Angels, this chronograph features a blue ceramic case. The brilliant blue color is the result of a mix of zirconium oxide and other metal oxides. Here too, the chronograph pushers and crown are made of Ceratanium®, a material developed by IWC. The iconic “Blue Angels®” emblem with the golden wings of the U.S. Navy, is visible on the dial at 6 o’clock; the typical characters are engraved on the titanium caseback. Yellow details are present on the chronograph seconds hand, the small seconds and the day and date indicator at 3 o’clock. This watch is equipped with a blue rubber strap with a fabric insert.

The new chronographs feature the robust IWC-manufactured 69380 caliber movement, consisting of 231 individual components. A column wheel controls the timing function. The bidirectional ratchet winding system supplies energy to the movement, accumulating a power reserve of 46 hours. The watch also features an internal soft iron case to effectively protect the movement from the effects of magnetic fields. The front windows are equipped with an anti-decompression fixing method. The Pilot’s Watches Chronograph Edition are available from yesterday at IWC boutiques, authorized distribution partners or online at IWC.com. The timepieces can be registered under the My IWC service program and thus benefit from a 6-year extension of the standard 2-year limited international warranty.