Hands-On: IWC Big Pilot 43
IWC has a solid history of creating watches for Pilots, the first being developed in 1936. This watch was the IW436, it had shatter proof glass, the case was anti-magnetic and the movement could operate from -40 +40 degrees C. This was needed as cockpits were unheated back then.
The first Big Pilots watch was launched in 1940 with the idea of having a large high contrast dial that’s highly legible in all conditions and large crown so that pilots could operate the watch when wearing flying gloves.
The previous Big Pilots watch was a beast at 46mm wide, this new Big Pilot is smaller at 43mm and it also has a more simple dial. The 46mm although looks awesome, it’s completely unwearable for me on my 17.5cm wrists, the 46mm is just able do able. It is still big though.
SPECS
IWC Big Pilot 43
IW329304
Case
- Glass: Sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
- Water-resistant 10 bar
- Screw Down crown
- Diameter 43 mm
- Height 13.6 mm
- Dial: Black and Blue
Movement
- IWC manufacture calibre 82100
- Frequency 28,800 vph/4 Hz
- Jewels 22
- Power reserve 60 h
- Winding Automatic / bi directional
