With two new models in its “Colours of TOP GUN” collection, IWC Schaffhausen underscores its comprehensive expertise in manufacturing coloured ceramic watches with striking monochromatic designs. The Pilot’s Watch Timezoner TOP GUN Woodland is the first Timezoner® in coloured ceramic, featuring a dark green ceramic case and a Ceratanium® case ring and crown. The patented Timezoner® function allows the wearer to effortlessly change between different time zones by simply pressing down and turning the rotating bezel. The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 TOP GUN Mojave Desert marks IWC’s first 41-millimeter Pilot’s Chronograph with a sand-coloured ceramic case.
In 2022, IWC Schaffhausen introduced its “Colors of TOP GUN” collection, comprising various Pilot’s Watches in ceramic colours such as Woodland and Lake Tahoe. These ceramic shades were inspired by colour codes found in the world of naval aviation and developed in collaboration with Pantone®. Now, the Swiss luxury watch manufacturer is adding two new models to the collection.
The Pilot’s Watch Timezoner TOP GUN Woodland (Ref. IW395601) features a case made of Woodland green ceramic. The dark green hue is inspired by the flight suits and uniforms worn by pilots in the TOP GUN flight school and the vast forest landscapes they fly over. The timepiece impresses with its monochromatic design. From the dial and hands to the rubber strap and luminescent material, each component was carefully matched to the ceramic case colour through an elaborate engineering process. The case ring and the crown are made of matte black Ceratanium®, an IWC-developed material which combines the structural integrity of titanium with a hardness and scratch-resistance similar to that of ceramic.
Thanks to the integrated Timezoner® function, the watch can be set to a different time zone by simply pressing down and rotating the bezel. The hour hand, the 24-hour display and the date will move forwards or backwards in one-hour steps. This adjustment also works across the dateline and without losing a single second in the process. The city ring is made of green ceramic, while its outer bezel is made of Ceratanium®. It contains the names of 24 major cities, each representing one of the international time zones. The timepiece is powered by the IWC-manufactured 82760 calibre. This automatic movement uses a Pellaton winding system reinforced with ceramic components to reliably build up a power reserve of 60 hours in the mainspring. The movement is visible through a tinted sapphire case back.
With the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 TOP GUN Mojave Desert (Ref. IW389402), IWC adds its third 41-millimeter ceramic chronograph to the portfolio. The case is made of sand-colored ceramic. Known as Mojave Desert, this earth tone with notes of beige and khaki is inspired by the flight suits of naval aviators and the desert landscape around China Lake, home to the U.S. Navy’s famous TOP GUN flight school. The dark brown dial and the hands, the printing and luminescent material, and the rubber strap with a textile inlay harmonize perfectly with the case. The crown, the chronograph pushers, and the case back are made of matte grey titanium. Ticking away inside the case is the IWC-manufactured 69380 calibre. This highly robust chronograph movement in a classic column-wheel design comprises 242 individual parts. The IWC-typical vertical dial layout places the stopped minutes directly at the 12 o’clock position, significantly enhancing readability. An efficient double pawl winding system uses movements of the rotor in both directions to build up a power reserve of 46 hours in the mainspring. The movement is protected from the effects of magnetic fields by a soft iron inner case, and the front glass is specially secured to withstand sudden drops in air pressure.
IWC PIONEERED CERAMIC IN THE WATCH INDUSTRY
IWC is a pioneer in the use of ceramic for watch cases. In 1986, the company introduced the Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph (Ref. 3755). It was the world’s first wristwatch with a case made of black zirconium oxide ceramic. IWC was also one of the first watch brands to push forward the development of different ceramic colours, such as white, blue, and green. To manufacture a watch case in coloured ceramic, zirconium oxide is combined with other metallic oxides. The final colour results from the exact mixing ratio of these raw materials. What is more, the manufacturing process and its parameters – such as the exact temperature or the duration of the sintering process – must be adapted to each colour.
The Pilot’s Watch Timezoner TOP GUN Woodland and the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 TOP GUN Mojave Desert are available through selected IWC boutiques. In addition, the timepieces are eligible for registration under the My IWC care program, benefitting from a 6-year extension to the standard 2-year International Limited Warranty.
IWC Pilot’s Watch Timezoner TOP GUN Woodland Technical Specifications
Ref. IW395601 – 19.200 € / $ 17,400
Features
- Central hacking seconds
- Date display
- IWC-patented timezoner function
- Pellaton automatic winding
- 24-hour display for Worldtimer function
- Glass secured against displacement by drop in air pressure
- Sapphire glass, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
- Rotor with 18-carat gold medallion
Movement
- 82760 Calibre
- Automatic, self-winding
- 60 hours Power Reserve
- Frequency 28’800 VPH (4 Hz)
- 226 Components
- 22 Jewels
Case
- Ceratanium® case
- Diameter 46.0 mm
- Height 15.0 mm
- Screw in crown
- See-through sapphire glass back
- Water resistance 10.0 bar
IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 TOP GUN Mojave Desert Technical Specifications
Ref. IW389402 – 12.700 € / $ 11,700
Features
- Day and date display
- Soft-iron inner case for protection against magnetic fields
- Small hacking seconds
- Sapphire glass, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
- Glass secured against displacement by drop in air pressure
- Chronograph function with hours, minutes and seconds
Movement
- 69380 Calibre
- Automatic, self-winding
- 46 hours Power Reserve
- Frequency 28’800 VPH (4 Hz)
- 242 Components
- 33 Jewels
Case
- Ceramic case
- Diameter 41.9 mm
- Height 15.5 mm
- Screw in crown
- Water resistance 10.0 bar
IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN
IWC Schaffhausen is a leading Swiss luxury watch manufacturer based in Schaffhausen in the north-eastern part of Switzerland. With collections like the Portugieser and the Pilot’s Watches, the brand covers the whole spectrum from elegant to sports watches. Founded in 1868 by the American watchmaker and engineer Florentine Ariosto Jones, IWC is known for its unique engineering approach to watchmaking, combining the best of human craftsmanship and creativity with cutting-edge technology and processes.
Over its more than 150-year history, IWC has earned a reputation for creating professional instrument watches and functional complications, especially chronographs and calendars, which are ingenious, robust, and easy for customers to use. A pioneer in the use of titanium and ceramics, IWC today specialises in highly engineered watch cases manufactured from advanced materials, such as coloured ceramics, Ceratanium®, and titanium aluminide.
A leader in sustainable luxury watchmaking, IWC sources materials responsibly and takes action to minimise its impact on the environment. Along the pillars of transparency, circularity, and responsibility, the brand crafts timepieces built to last for generations and continuously improves every element of how it manufactures, distributes, and services its products in the most responsible way. IWC also partners with organisations that work globally to support children and young people.