IWC: New TOP GUN Line
11 February 2019IWC unveils a new TOP GUN line in the Pilot’s Watches collection. The Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph TOP GUN Ceratanium is the first pilot’s watch from IWC with a Ceratanium case. The material developed by IWC is as lightweight and robust as titanium and at the same time as hard and scratch-resistant as ceramic. IWC will also be presenting the first watch case made from sand-coloured ceramic.
The TOP GUN watches take their name from the U.S. Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program. This training programmeprovides the best Navy pilots with flying and tacticaltraining. The TOP GUN watches are therefore specially designed with robust materials, such as ceramic and titanium, to meet the specific requirements of elite jet pilots.
“In the new TOP GUN line, we are using Ceratanium® fora pilot’s watch for the first time. This material developedby IWC combines the excellent material properties of titanium and ceramic. This has enabled us to create a completely black design, without a coating, for all watch components such as push-buttons or pin buckles.
With the first watch case made from sand-coloured ceramic, which perfectly matches the uniforms worn by pilots in the U.S. Navy, we are also demonstrating IWC’s high level of material expertise,” explains Christoph Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen.
The Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph TOP GUN Ceratanium
Developed by IWC, Ceratanium is a material that combines the advantages of titanium and ceramic in a groundbreaking new composition. The patented material is as lightweight and unbreakable as titanium and at the same time as hard and scratch-resistant as ceramic. It is also characterised by its excellent skin compatibility, its high degree of corrosion-resistance and its matte black colour.
The base material for Ceratanium is a special titanium alloy. The manufacturing process for this alloy involves multiple stages and is extremely complex, as the raw material must have an extremely high degree of purity. The blank is initially machined to give the various case components their final shape. This is followed by a furnace process. During this process, oxygen diffuses into the material, a phase transformation takes place and the surface of the metal becomes ceramic. With this special surface finishing, the material not only take son the typical properties of ceramic such as extreme hardness and scratch resistance, but also develops its striking, matte black colour.
In contrast to conventional coating procedures used todaysuch as DLC, which can separate from the carrier or flake off, the ceramic surface of Ceratanium adheres permanently to the material. For the first time, Ceratanium will be used for a pilot’s watch in the new TOP GUN collection and it will also be the first time IWC has used this material for an unlimited watch. In the Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph TOPGUN Ceratanium, all case components, including the chronograph push buttons or the pin buckle, are made from Ceratanium. This gives the watch a completely jet black design.
The double chronograph has an integrated split-seconds hand mechanism for simultaneously measuring two short periods of time. It is powered by the 79420 calibre with self-winding and boasts a power reserve of 44 hours.
44mm Ceratanium case, black dial, black hands, black rubber strap. (Price €.15’400)
The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN Edition “Mojave Desert”
Is the first watch with a case made from sand-coloured ceramic. This reference is limited to 500 pieces.
The sand-coloured ceramic is inspired by the Mojave Desert, home to the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake – the largest land area of the U.S. Navy. The colour perfectly matches the uniforms worn by Navy pilots and is the result of a combination of zirconium oxide with other metallic oxides. The chronograph is powered by the 69380 IWC-manufactured calibre. The chronograph movement with a classic column wheel design has both a chronograph function and a display for the day and date. The pawl-winding system, which winds up on both sides, boasts a power reserve of 46 hours.
Sand-coloured ceramic 44.5mm case, dark brown dial, sand-coloured hands, sand-coloured textile strap. (Price €.9’250)
Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN
IWC has integrated an IWC-manufactured movement from the 69000 calibre family into its pilot’swatches for the first time.
The 69380 IWC-manufactured calibre has both a chronograph function and a display for the day and date. The minutes are shown on the subdial at “12 o’clock” and the hours are shown at “9 o’clock”. The red hand showing the small seconds at “6 o’clock” adds a splash of colour to the black dial with white numbers and indexes.
44.5mm Black ceramic case, black dial, black hands, black textile strap. (Price €.8’550)
Pilot’s Watch Automatic TOP GUN
Features an IWC-manufactured movement from the new 32000 calibre family.
The 32110 IWC-manufactured calibre is a robust automatic movement that boasts a power reserve of 72 hours. With a diameter of 41 millimetres and a black ceramic case, the watch fits perfectly on any wrist.
Black ceramic case, black dial, black hands, black textile strap. (Price €.6’300)