In 2018, IWC created the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor” in collaboration with instructors based on Naval  Air Station Leemore   in California. Featuring a case made of black ceramic and the iconic TOPGUN patch on the dial, the rugged chronograph is available exclusively for graduates of the Navy Fighter Weapons School.

The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN Edition “SFTI”, limited to 1500 pieces, takes inspiration from the acclaimed “Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor“ watch. It follows the tradition of IWC’s TOP GUN watches. It is made with extraordinarily robust materials to withstand the extreme strain that pilots experience in the cockpit of supersonic jets like the F/A-18 Super Hornet.

The large 44-millimeter case is made of black zirconium oxide ceramic. With a Vickers rating second only to that of a diamond, ceramic ranks among the hardest substances on earth. It is extremely scratch-resistant and its stealthy black color is totally anti-reflective. The case back and chronograph pushers are made of Ceratanium®, a recent innovation from IWC’s materials engineers. This new material is as light and durable as titanium but at the same time as similarly hard and scratch-resistant as ceramic. Thanks to the combination of ceramic and Ceratanium®, the chronograph boasts an entirely matte black design. The tactical look is completed by a black dial and black hands coated with luminescence. The small second hand and the tail of the chronograph second hand, which takes the form of a jet, add a touch of red to the instrument-style dial.

Ticking away inside the sturdy case is the IWC- manufactured 69380 calibre. The robust chronograph movement in classic column-wheel design ensures precise timekeeping and the measurement of stopwatch times of up to 12 hours. Another function is a date and weekday display. The sporty timepiece is fitted with a green textile strap.

https://www.iwc.com/en/watch-collections/pilot-watches.html

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The Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer evolves the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet collection with a new Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph. For the first time ever, Audemars Piguet dares to combine the classicism and prestige of the flying tourbillon with the modernity of the flyback chronograph — the sporting complication par excellence. Limited to 50 pieces, this complex watch endowed with contemporary aesthetics and distinct architectural elements brings forward the Manufacture’s progressive approach to traditional craftsmanship.

STATE-OF-THE-ART ARCHITECTURE

This high complication watch unites an 18-carat white gold case with a three-dimensional architectural face design blurring the line between dial and movement. The contrast of rhodium-toned and black galvanic openworked bridges honed from titanium and nickel silver, brings depth and play of light to the watch. The movement as well as all design elements, which count more than 100 hand-polished angles, are meticulously finished by hand with an alternation of satin-brushing and sandblasting.

The transparent chronograph counters at 3 and 9 o’clock reveal part of the complex mechanism, while the impactful flying tourbillon makes its rotation at 6 o’clock. The blued lacquered inner bezel, white gold hands and chronograph rings add a subtle touch of colour, which is enhanced by the watch’s dark blue hand-stitched alligator strap.

The complex double curved sapphire crystal, which perfectly integrates the geometry of the watch’s extra-thin bezel, offers a unique perspective on the dial’s contemporary aesthetics and refined hand-finishing.

The sapphire caseback reveals through its satin-brushed and sandblasted openworked bridges part of calibre 2952, the Manufacture’s newest selfwinding movement endowed with a flying tourbillon and a flyback chronograph. The openworked rhodium-toned 22-carat pink gold oscillating weight harmoniously matches the bridges’ and case’s colour.

“The thread that connects all of our products – past  and present – is that our cases are the canvas for highly detailed hand-finishing that creates a play of light when one examines the case’s architectural geometry. The new Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Selfwinding  Flying Tourbillon Chronograph amplifies this experience by emphasizing the contrast of light and the various finishing techniques of the openworked dial elements and the multi-layered complex mechanism. All aspects of the watch – case, dial and movement – are essential platforms for our watchmakers and artisans to express their craft  and the continuing story of Audemars Piguet.“ Michael Friedman, Head of Complications, Audemars Piguet.

AUDEMARS PIGUET, A PIONEER IN TOURBILLON WRISTWATCHES

Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph continues to uphold the Manufacture’s pioneering development in terms of tourbillon wristwatches. The tourbillon invented by Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1801 was a rare find in pocket watches across the world and almost entirely absent from wristwatches before 1986. To this day, it has remained a symbol of watchmaking excellence and art as only a few watchmakers are trained to perfect this mechanism.

In the early 1980s, Georges Golay, Audemars Piguet’s General Director, challenged Serge Meylan, a young constructor newly arrived in the workshops, to give life to the first selfwinding tourbillon in the history of wristwatches—a considerable challenge as the movement had to fit in an ultra-slim 5.3 mm-thick case. Serge successfully met the challenge and this tourbillon is still one of the smallest in the world today with a diameter of 7.2 mm, as well as one of the lightest at just 0.123 grams. Introduced in 1986, this wristwatch forged a new path for the entire high-end watchmaking sector, which renewed ties with this complicated mechanism.

The Manufacture combined the tourbillon and the chronograph for the first time in 1999 in the Jules Audemars Tradition d’Excellence n°1 wristwatch — a limited edition of 20 pieces in platinum uniting tourbillon, chronograph and minute repeater in a movement entirely developed and produced in-house. It was followed in 2003 by Audemars Piguet’s first chronograph tourbillon movement, hand-wound calibre 2889, launched in the Royal Oak collection (ref. 25977). Since then, this complicated movement has seen numerous evolutions across the Manufacture’s collections.

The Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph represents, however, the first time this combination is evolved at Audemars Piguet with a flying tourbillon — a complicated mechanism which the Manufacture first released in 2018 in the Royal Oak Concept collection. By bringing together the chronograph and the flying tourbillon in its latest Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet collection, the manufacturer continues to move ancestral craftsmanship forward by preserving and reinterpreting traditions.

www.audemarspiguet.com

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A symbol of escapism and exploration, the 41 mm Overseas self-winding model, unveiled at the Watches Wonders Shanghai 2020 exhibition, combines for the first time its sleek silhouette sculpted in pink gold with a blue Overseas dial. The Overseas collection, immediately recognisable by its hexagonal bezel evoking the Maltese cross, continues to explore new aesthetic horizons.

Following in the wake of the Overseas perpetual calendar ultra-thin model in pink gold and blue dial launched for Watches and Wonders 2020, the sportiest collection from the Maison is interpreted in a self-winding three-hand version that is as precious as it is sophisticated. Its most striking asset lies in the all-gold theme running from case to bracelet and stylishly enhanced by the iconic Overseas blue. Sleek and functional style

The visual journey begins on the dial, whose intense blue colour accentuates the sporty character of the watch. Its pure surface reveals a world of details, hovering between vibrant and shimmering light effects.

The sunburst satin-brushed centre makes a pleasing contrast with the circular satin-finished flange and velvet-finish minute circle. This subtle translucent blue-lacquered composition is punctuated by gold hour-markers and hands coated in white luminescent material. A date appearing discreetly at completes the picture.

This elegant and functional style makes a perfect match with the pink gold of the 41 mm case, flowing into a bracelet featuring likewise pink gold links inspired by the Maltese cross.

Interchangeable bracelet/straps

Because an active life involves countless surprises, the Overseas self-winding adapts to every situation by adopting an attitude of versatile elegance.

Depending on the occasion, it easily swaps out its gold bracelet for a blue rubber or alligator leather strap thanks to the Overseas line’s signature interchangeability system. The Overseas dual time and pink gold chronograph models can thus be fitted with the new gold bracelet introduced on this model and available in Vacheron Constantin boutiques and points of sale. The accuracy of a self-winding movement

The Overseas self-winding watch relies on the Manufacture 5100 calibre and its comfortable 60-hour power reserve. In addition to its accuracy and reliability, it is graced with refined decorations revealed through the sapphire crystal case-back. A 22K gold oscillating weight adorned with a wind rose rotates on the baseplate graced with a Côtes de Genève motif. A potent symbol, like an invitation to journey…

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At the Watches &Wonders exhibition in Shanghai, IWC Schaffhausen presented the iconic Portugieser Chronograph on a stainless steel bracelet for the first time. Thanks to this new bracelet option, the elegant and sporty chronograph becomes even more versatile and apt for a whole new range of adventures.

The high-quality stainless steel bracelet with a butterfly folding clasp is also available as an accessory for all new models of the Portugieser Chronograph. With the Portugieser Chronograph, IWC established a sportier design expression in the Portugieser family more than 20 years ago.

Thanks to the clear and open dial with the two recessed totalisers at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock, as well as the inner flange printed with a quarter seconds scale, the timelessly modern chronograph has turned into one of the most popular models from Schaffhausen.

Now, the Portugieser Chronograph becomes even more versatile; for the first time, IWC has launched a version of this iconic timepiece with a stainless steel bracelet. The bracelet is beautifully detailed and elaborately finished with polished and satin-finished surfaces. Thanks to the butterfly folding clasp, it sits ergonomically on the wrist and provides excellent wearing comfort.

“Stainless steel is robust and practical for everyday use, but also corrosion-resistant and unaffected by moisture, sweat and seawater splashes. With this new bracelet option, the Portugieser Chronograph becomes the timepiece of choice for even more activities and adventures, and an extremely versatile companion on the wrist,” explains Christoph Grainger Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen.

The new reference with a stainless steel bracelet (Ref. IW371617) features a stainless steel case, a silver plated dial, as well as blue hands and appliques. Ticking away inside is the IWC-manufactured 69355 calibre. The robust and precise chronograph movement in classic column-wheel design is visible through the sapphire glass back. An efficient, bi-directional pawl winding system builds up a power reserve of 46 hours. The new stainless steel bracelet is available as an accessory for all new models of the Portugieser Chronograph (Ref. IW3716).

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