IWC Pilot's Watch Top Gun Chronograph 3880

The Pilot's Watch Top Gun Chronograph (Ref. 3880) is a pilot's watch automatic chronograph with flyback produced by IWC from 2012 through 2016.

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 a Doppelchronograph added in 1992. In 2007, IWC launched the blacked-out IWC Top Gun line with a version of the famous Double Chronograph in black ceramic.

The Top Gun Double Chronograph Ref. 3799 was replaced in 2012 by this new Ref. 3880. This coincided with the launch of a whole range of IWC Top Gun models that year, including the Big Pilot's Watch and Perpetual Calendar models. The Ref. 3880 boasted an in-house flyback movement, Cal. 89365, with two registers in the dial: Running seconds at 6:00 and a 60 minute counter at 12:00. The date window was enlarged to resemble an aircraft altimeter, a controversial choice also found on other Pilot's Watch models that year.

The Pilot's Watch Top Gun Chronograph was available in two primary versions: The regular "Top Gun" featured a black ceramic case and blacked-out dial, while the "Top Gun Miramar" had a grey ceramic case, grey dial, and green strap. A limited-edition boutique model of Ref. 3880 had the ceramic black case of the Top Gun but with dark blue markings on the black dial.

In 2015, IWC launched a range of models under the "Antoine De Saint Exupery Edition The Last Flight" banner. These had a brown dial with applied markings, no date window, and the initial "A" on the dial. All featured a bronze-colored ceramic case, with 17 pieces using platinum accents, 170 with rose gold, and 1,700 with stainless steel. Although based on the same model reference, none bore the Top Gun branding.

In 2016, the Top Gun Chronograph, Ref. 3890 was revised with a smaller case and simpler dial. Ref. 3880 was retired at this time.

References:

IW3880-01: (2012-2016) Ceramic black case, black dial with white markings, "triple date" only, black textile strap

IW3880-02: "Miramar" (2012-2016) Ceramic grey case, green dial with beige markings, "triple date" only, green textile strap

IW3880-03: "Boutique" (2012-2016) Ceramic black case, black dial with blue markings, "triple date" only, black textile strap, limited edition of 500 pieces

IW3880-04: "Antoine De Saint Exupery Edition The Last Flight" (2015) Cal. 89361 Ceramic bronze case, brown dial with applied white markings, no date, brown leather strap, limited edition of 1,700 pieces

IW3880-05: "Antoine De Saint Exupery Edition The Last Flight" (2015) Cal. 89361 Ceramic and platinum bronze case, brown dial with applied white markings, no date, brown leather strap, limited edition of 17 pieces

IW3880-06: "Antoine De Saint Exupery Edition The Last Flight" (2015) Cal. 89361 Ceramic and rose gold bronze case, brown dial with applied white markings, no date, brown leather strap, limited edition of 170 pieces

Movement:

Automatic chronograph flyback calibre Cal. 89365 or Cal. 89361

Case:

Stainless steel or ceramic

Ø 46 mm

H 16.5 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