IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph 3705

The Pilot's Watch Chronograph (Ref. 3705 and 3706) was a pilot's watch automatic chronograph produced by IWC from 1994 through 2005.

Overview

The legendary IWC Mark XI aviator's watch was a "cult watch". Produced from 1948 until the early eighties, the Mark XI was never available to the public. Sensing an opportunity in the 1990s, IWC introduced a civilian version in 1993, the Mark XII. But this was not the first civilian "flieger" from IWC. In 1988 the company introduced the Pilot's Watch Chronograph Mechaquartz model, with styling from the Mark XI and the innovative Mechaquartz movement from IWC sister company, Jaeger-LeCoultre.

In 1992, IWC shocked the world with the first mass-produced doppelchronograph movement in the Pilot's Watch Doppelchronograph. This was followed in 1994 with the release of this Pilot's Watch Chronograph, Ref. 3705 in black ceramic and the Ref. 3706 in stainless steel. Although the Doppelchrono and black ceramic Chronograph generated buzz for IWC, it was the Ref. 3706 that would bring in sales. Both models had the same dimensions, at 39 mm diameter and 14.6 mm thick, but the ceramic case added 50% to the cost. The dials, hands, pushers, crown, and caseback was similar, as was the ETA 7750-based Cal. 7922.

The Chronograph models strongly resemble the Ref. 3711 Doppelchronograph, minus the pusher at 10:00 and additional seconds hand. The dial is clean for a chronograph, with simple white markings on the chronograph subdials and small seconds, and the hands are simple stick type. A luminous triangle at 12:00 and rectangles at 3, 6, and 9 give a sense of familiarity and tie it to the Pilot's Watch Mark XII launched a year earlier. It was a strong, masculine watch and did much to set IWC back on the road to profitability.

Three different movements were used in Ref. 3706:

• 1994-1998: Cal. 7902 Valjoux fine regulator
• 1997-1998: Cal. 7912 Etachron
• 1999-2005: Cal. 7922 Triovis

The ceramic Ref. 3704 remained in the IWC catalog from 1994 through 1998, with less than 2,000 examples sold. Ref. 3706 in steel lasted until 2005 and was much more successful. In 2003 a Spitfire model was added with wide hands, applied markers, and a multi-level dial. The model was thoroughly updated in 2006 for the Ref. 3717.

References: IW3705: (1994-1998) Black ceramic case, black dial with white markings, black crocodile strap IW3706-01: (1994-2005) Stainless steel case, German day wheel, black dial with white markings, black crocodile strap IW3706-02: (1994-2005) Stainless steel case, Italian day wheel, black dial with white markings, black crocodile strap IW3706-03: (1994-2005) Stainless steel case, English day wheel, black dial with white markings, black crocodile strap IW3706-04: (1994-2005) Stainless steel case, French day wheel, black dial with white markings, black crocodile strap IW3706-05: (1994-2005) Stainless steel case, German day wheel, black dial with white markings, steel bracelet IW3706-06: (1994-2005) Stainless steel case, Italian day wheel, black dial with white markings, steel bracelet IW3706-07: (1994-2005) Stainless steel case, English day wheel, black dial with white markings, steel bracelet IW3706-08: (1994-2005) Stainless steel case, French day wheel, black dial with white markings, steel bracelet IW3706-09: (1994-2005) Stainless steel case, Spanish day wheel, black dial with white markings, black crocodile strap IW3706-10: (1994-2005) Stainless steel case, Spanish day wheel, black dial with white markings, steel bracelet Movement: Automatic chronograph rattrapante calibre Cal. 79230 or Cal. 79420 Case: Stainless steel or ceramic Ø 39 mm H 14.6 mm Screw-down caseback in stainless steel Dial: Luminous indexes (triangle at 12 o'clock) Arabic numerals Steel hours and minutes hand, coated with luminous color Painted seconds hands Functions: Hours, minutes Chronograph seconds hand Day and date window at 3:00 Chronograph hours at 6:00 Small seconds at 9:00 Chronograph 30 minute counter at 12:00 Bracelet: Metal bracelet or leather strap Production: Production: 1994 - 2005 Predecessor: IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph Mechaquartz Successor: IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph 3717

See Also

• IWC Pilot's Watch
• IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph
• IWC Pilot's Watch Doppelchronograph