The International Watch Company has a claim to one of the most robust lineages amongst serious pilot’s watch manufacturers — indeed, their first dedicated pilot’s watch dates to 1936 and was technically advanced for its time. Most famously, IWC’s Mark XI has spanned more iterations and updates than one can readily keep track of, the latest being the robust Mark XVIII.
Today, the Swiss firm has released the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “Blue Angels,” a special chronograph designed in collaboration with the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron, for which they’re now an official licensee. The watch features a 44.5mm black ceramic case, blue dial with outer minute ring and inner hour ring, and the in-house cal. 89361 with flyback chronograph, automatic winding, unique hour/minute counter at 12 o’clock and 68 hours of power reserve. Adding to the watch’s robustness is a soft iron inner antimagnetic case and a sapphire crystal protected against drops in pressure.
The combination of a black ceramic case with blue dial and yellow accents (to mirror the Blue Angels’ livery) is a handsome one, giving the watch a pop of color that stands out from most offerings the IWC catalog. Its oversize diameter at 44.5mm is understandable given its intended purpose, but if IWC ever decided to expand this collection with a more wearable 40mm variant, we certainly wouldn’t object.
The new Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “Blue Angels” ships on a blue calf leather strap and will be available in boutiques beginning this month at a price of $10,900.
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