IWC Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar
The Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar is an over-sized perpetual calendar pilot's watch produced by IWC from 2006 to 2018.
Overview
IWC created a "Spezialuhr für Flieger" ("Special Watch for Pilots") in 1936 with clean black dial, large hands, and luminous numerals. Although the 36 mm case was fairly large for the time, pilots preferred an even larger dial and crown for extra visibility in the cockpit. In 1940, IWC responded with an official product, the prototypical "Big Pilot's watch". Created for the German Air Force, it had a massive 55 mm diameter case. The dial featured a luminous triangle at 12 flanked by two dots, plain numerals, and large luminous sword hands. Another essential element was a massive cone-shaped crown, allowing the watch to be operated while wearing gloves.
By the end of the 1990s, the Mark XV and Pilot's Watch Chronograph had become signature models for IWC. Watch case sizes were growing rapidly, and consumers were responding to "heritage" models that recalled the past. In 2002 IWC resurrected the oversized "Grosse Fliegeruhr" as the Big Pilot, Ref. 5002. It used the new in-house automatic Cal. 5011, which used the company's trademark Pellaton winding system and boasted a seven-day power reserve. This was refreshed in 2006 with the updated Cal. 51110 as Ref. 5004.
Also in 2006, IWC released a special limited-edition Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar, Ref. 5026 watch with a perpetual calendar mechanism in a limited edition of 25 in a platinum case. This watch used a large 46 mm case and was 16 mm thick with an oversized crown like the Ref. 5004. The dial was taken up by four subdials:
- 3:00 power reserve indicator and date of month, each by pointer
- 6:00 month by pointer
- 9:00 small seconds and day of week, each by pointer
- 12:00 double moon phase indicator
Additionally, a window at 7:30 shows the year with four digits.
This was made possible by Cal. 51612, closely related to the Cal. 51611 previously seen in the IWC Portuguese Perpetual Calendar. A descendent of the first modern in-house IWC movement, Cal. 5000, this was an eight day movement with Pellaton automatic winding. Being part of the later series in this family, it ticks at 21,600 A/h. In 2007, Big Pilot Perpetual watches received the upgraded Cal. 51614.
The first Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar models were the un-numbered limited-edition "Sincere" platinum of 2006, followed closely by the limited-edition "Cellini" in titanium. In 2007, a unique stainless steel example was offered for Only Watch, where it was sold for EUR80,000. Many other limited edition examples followed, culminating in 2017 with a unique piece offered for Laureus in Milano, Italy.
In 2012, IWC introduced the Top Gun Perpetual Calendar, Ref. 5029 in a large 48 mm ceramic case. It used the same Cal. 51614 movement but was styled in a modern military theme. This was the only "unlimited" model in the original Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar line.
A slightly different version of the Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar arrived in 2013. Ref. 5028 differed only slightly: Cal. 51613 had a "single" moon phase indicator at 12:00 and used pointer hands in all subdials. The first example was a unique "Le Petit Prince" piece in platinum auctioned for the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation. A limited edition of 270 in rose gold followed, and these remain extremely popular with collectors.
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