In the weeks leading up to the start of SIHH 2019, IWC teased us with 4 new Pilot’s Watches that would be added to their growing collection of aviation-inspired timepieces. Now with the show is well underway, IWC has unveiled the rest of the watches in their new Spitfire collection.
Unlike previous Spitfire editions, these new watches are not simply silver-dial variations of existing timepieces; but rather, these new Spitfire editions have all been fitted with in-house movements, and have been given a unique design language that is entirely their own. Fitted with either black or green dials in stainless steel or sandblasted bronze cases, the new IWC Spitfire collection embraces reduced case sizes, and draws design inspiration from the utilitarian, instrument-like appearance of the original Mark XI. A total of seven references spread across 5 different models have been added to IWC’s Spitfire collection; let’s take a closer look at the latest Spitfire Pilot’s Watches from IWC.
Pilot’s Watch Automatic Spitfire
Measuring 39mm and available with the option of either a stainless steel or bronze case, this is the most simple and traditional watch within IWC’s new Spitfire collection. Slightly smaller than the similarly-styled Mark XVIII (39mm vs. 40mm), the new Pilot’s Watch Automatic Spitfire is powered by IWC’s brand-new, in-house Caliber 32110 movement, which offers users a 72-hour power reserve, and is making its official debut in this timepiece. Like other members of IWC’s Pilot’s Watch collection, the Automatic Spitfire has an inner cage made from soft iron to protect the movement against potentially disruptive magnetic fields.
Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Spitfire
Chronographs are among the most popular watches manufactured by IWC; however in recent years, they have only been available with larger case sizes. Like the Pilot’s Watch Automatic Spitfire, the new IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Spitfire is available with the option of either a stainless steel or bronze case; however with a case diameter of just 41mm, this Spitfire edition ranks among the smallest chronographs currently produced by the manufacturer. Powered by the in-house Caliber 69380 movement, the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Spitfire offers users a 46-hour power reserve, and like other watches in the collection, it features a soft iron inner cage for additional magnetic resistance.
Pilot’s Watch UTC Spitfire Edition “MJ271”
Like other UTC watches from IWC’s past, the new Pilot’s Watch UTC Spitfire Edition “MJ271” has an arched window on the upper half of the dial that allows users to reference a second time zone. With a case diameter of 41mm and powered by IWC’s in-house Caliber 82710 movement, the “MJ271” marks the first time a UTC complication has been fitted to an in-house IWC movement. Production will be limited to just 271 pieces, and unlike the standard automatic and chronograph Spitfire editions, the new Pilot’s Watch UTC Spitfire Edition “MJ271” is only available with a bronze case and green dial.
Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Spitfire Edition “The Longest Flight”
The Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Spitfire Edition “The Longest Flight” was one of the 4 new watches that IWC teased in the weeks leading up to SIHH 2019. Production will be limited to just 250 examples, and while the general trend of the other new watches in the Spitfire collection is to favor slightly reduced case size, the “The Longest Flight” is a large watch, measuring 46mm in diameter, and only available with the option of a steel case and black dial. As its name suggests, the Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Spitfire Edition is powered by the in-house Caliber 82760 movement, and features IWC’s Timezoner complication, which links the world-time bezel to the movement, and adjusts the hour hand as the bezel is rotated.
Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Spitfire
Measuring a sizable 46.2mm in diameter, the Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Spitfire is the largest watch among the seven pieces that make up IWC’s new Spitfire collection. Powered by the in-house Caliber 52615 perpetual calendar movement, the watch offers users a whopping 168-hour power reserve, and features a double moon display that shows the correct position of the moon in both the northern and the southern hemisphere. The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Spitfire is only available with the option of a bronze case, and production will be limited to just 250 pieces worldwide.
