The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 TOP GUN Miramar, unveiled by IWC Schaffhausen in July 2025, stands as a striking fusion of technical expertise and bold contemporary aesthetics. With this release, IWC pushes its acclaimed “Colours of TOP GUN” concept into new territory, debuting a summery light blue ceramic, developed in partnership with Pantone®, that draws inspiration from the distinctive t-shirts worn by TOP GUN instructors. Far from being another fleeting take on the genre, the Miramar distinctly asserts itself through considered detail, technical refinement, and a design language that resonates with both naval aviation heritage and avant-garde material science.
The dial of the Miramar captivates immediately with its monochromatic continuity. The light blue hue, extending uninterrupted from the ceramic case across to the dial and rubber strap, immerses the wearer in a summery yet purposeful mood. In true IWC fashion, legibility reigns supreme. The dial configuration, underlined by the iconic vertical layout with stopped minutes at 12 o’clock, offers a clear, readable presentation for chronograph timing.
The applied blue hands, generously coated in Super-LumiNova®, render excellent low-light visibility without compromising the modern colour theme. The date and day display, a hallmark of functional instrument watches, is judiciously positioned and does not disturb the overall visual harmony. Subtle yet robust, the dial is shielded by a convex sapphire crystal, treated with an antireflective coating on both surfaces, ensuring a crisp and distortion-free view under all lighting conditions.
Beneath this vivid surface, IWC shelters its own calibre 69380 automatic chronograph movement. A member of the manufacturer’s lauded 69000 family, this movement is distinguished by a column-wheel architecture, ensuring precise and positive action of the chronograph functions, contributing to both tactile satisfaction and mechanical reliability. Beating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz), calibrated meticulously for accuracy, this calibre incorporates 33 jewels and bestows a generous 46-hour power reserve thanks to a double-pawl automatic winding system.
The engineering accomplishes not only robustness and precision, qualities expected from Schaffhausen’s ateliers, but also a remarkable resistance to magnetic fields, provided by a soft-iron inner cage. While the ceramic Miramar opts for a solid titanium back, engraved with the “TOP GUN” insignia, the movement’s refinement is mirrored in its thoughtful finishing.
Though hidden, one can expect decorated components, polished and satin-brushed surfaces, and the attention to assembly that has become de rigueur for IWC’s modern manufacture. Every touchpoint in the pushers and winding crown reflects a focus on durability and user experience: a chronograph not for the tight confines of a safe but the dynamic rigour of the real world.
The case itself is a tour de force for contemporary ceramic. Measuring 41.9mm in diameter and 15.5mm in height, it achieves presence and proportion without being unwieldy. The process behind the Miramar’s signature blue ceramic is intricate, as zirconium oxide is blended with metallic oxides in a carefully controlled proportion. Colour evolves unpredictably through the sintering phase, requiring relentless iteration by IWC’s material specialists, who ensure each case consistently yields the precise shade. This technical challenge extends to the matching of materials, ceramic case, dial, and strap, all handled differently in manufacture yet aligned perfectly in tone.
The rubber strap, water-repellent and robust, harmonises with the case thanks to IWC’s mastery of both function and form. The watch attains an impressive water-resistance rating of 10 bar, further underlining its credentials as a true pilot’s instrument. IWC’s EasX-CHANGE® system, proprietary and tool-less, allows for swift strap changes, empowering wearers to adapt the Miramar effortlessly to varying contexts and moods.
The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 TOP GUN Miramar represents IWC Schaffhausen’s singular synthesis of innovation, tradition, and modernity. It is not just a technical marvel but a vivid statement of colour and personality, executed with an unwavering dedication to precision and versatility.
The Miramar offers the connoisseur a sophisticated chronograph with technical depth and a visual identity boldly all its own: emblematic of IWC’s contemporary direction and relentless pursuit of excellence in both engineering and aesthetics. With its limited run of 1,000 pieces, it is poised to become a talking point among aficionados who value substance, innovation, and the quietly intense joy of owning a piece at the cutting edge of horological craft. Prices: Ref. IW389409 – 13.900 €, Ref. IW388117 – 7.700 €.
