IWC Schaffhausen is the Swiss time-master consistently looking to break boundaries in the watch world. Earlier this year, the brand took over our GATEZERO concept store in Zürich with a new ceramic timepiece from its TOP GUN line as part of IWC’s Pilot's Watches collection — and now it's back having built upon that foundation.
After the release of the Mojave Desert Watch Chronograph last year, IWC is now introducing two new colors to the drop. The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN Edition “Lake Tahoe” features a white ceramic case and a black dial. The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN Edition “Woodland” combines a dark green ceramic case and dial with pushers, crown, and a case back in matte black Ceratanium®. Both timepieces are powered by the IWC-manufactured 69380 caliber movement. Whilst Ceratanium© takes its dark color cues from IWC's titanium-ceramic hybrid material, Mojave Desert, Woodland, and Lake Tahoe are more natural tones inspired by the environments TOP GUN Pilots fly over in training.
Back in the 1970s, IWC’s engineers began researching ways of improving existing materials and using new ones. In 1980, IWC unveiled the Porsche Design Titanium Chronograph, the world’s first wristwatch with a titanium case and bracelet. The next premiere was not long in coming: in 1986, the Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar was the first-ever wristwatch with a case made of black zirconium oxide ceramic.
Every material is different and has specific properties of its own. Titanium, for example, is lightweight and shatterproof, while ceramic is virtually non-wearing and highly scratch-resistant. So, what about combining the advantages of these two traditional IWC materials? After a development period of over five years, IWC’s materials engineers finally achieved this extraordinary feat with Ceratanium®. The new material is as light and robust as titanium but as hard and scratch-resistant as ceramic.
The complex manufacturing process finishes with the watches being baked in a kiln at a specific temperature. For IWC, colorful insignias and ceramics have always been part of the brand’s traditional identity. Each color choice in the collection has been carefully defined by IWC and specified in collaboration with color industry leader Pantone Color Institute.
Shop IWC’s Pilot's Watches collection online here.
