IWC Big Pilot’s 43 mm [live photos, availability, price] replica watches uk paypal

The Big Pilot is one of those replica watches uk paypal that definitely deserved to be called a cult watch. Characteristic in size and design, it has enjoyed unflagging popularity for years. No wonder that even the slightest interference in such an icon evokes considerable emotions and at the same time anxiety that it will not lose its character.

I do not envy contemporary designers who are faced with the challenge of refreshing or introducing minor changes to product legends. They have to deal not only with the masses of orthodox fans,

for whom each new element may be a reason to complain, but above all with the subject of the icon as such. How to modify something to obtain the effect of freshness while maintaining all the components that make it unique?

Most are quite conservative about it, deciding to redo a little. In the case of watches, it is sometimes the color of the dial, other times the type of crown, and sometimes the size of the case. Not much, but the problem begins when this seemingly innocent change can affect the DNA of the product and change its perception. I admit that when I first heard that the IWC was going to reduce the Big Pilot, I immediately thought about it. Is subtracting 3 mm from the envelope still actually Big Pilot?

Große Fliegeruhr, or Big Pilot’s Watch

Before we take a closer look at the new, smaller Big Pilot, it is worth briefly mentioning the history of watches for aviators. As is usually the case, their development resulted from the need of the moment. At the end of the 1930s and during World War II, the military ordered timers for pilots that combined three features: resistance to magnetic fields, a simple, legible black and white dial and a large crown. It was then, at the request of the German Luftwaffe,

that IWC created, among others model under the name Große Fliegeruhr. The watch was 55 mm and – although it differed significantly in size – it was the prototype of the collection known today as Big Pilot’s. If you would like to learn more about the backstage of its creation, we encourage you to read the article from the #KultoweZegarki: IWC Pilot’s series.

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The 46 mm Big Pilot’s (BP) model, which has been in the IWC’s offer so far, has won the sympathy of a large number of collectors, celebrities, but also ordinary mortals over the years. Especially those with slightly more massive wrists who like large watches. At first glance, this model, which is quite simple in terms of design, does not stand out with anything special. Many other brands with aviation-inspired collections make items in a similar atmosphere, and at more affordable prices. So what is it that attracts to IWC BP? In my opinion, definitely his appearance after all.

The watch is so distinctive that you can see what is on your wrist from a distance. A bit like the famous “magnifier” in Rolexes, the shape of the Royal Oak, or Reverso or the Pamach lace. And in combination with a large size,

it can be considered a specific so-called statement watch. So what’s the point of reducing it? In order to face this question, it is worth taking a broader look at the collection of pilots from Schaffhausen.

The family of “pilots” from Schaffhausen

Let’s start with the fact that the collection of pilots from IWC is currently quite extensive. It is created, among others,

by Models Pilot’s Watch Chronograph, the slightly smaller and less complicated Pilot’s Watch “Mark” (currently numbered XVIII) and – most of all – Big Pilot’s. There is also a division into lines, among others Spitfire, Top Gun or Le Petit Prince. And although each of these families has certain characteristics, for example, in Top Gun, the IWC company uses ceramics,

and blue dials are used to distinguish the models dedicated to the Little Prince,

the average fan of watches when asked about IWC and models for pilots will indicate only one – Big Pilot’s.

Unfortunately, for many of them it was a dream come true, not only because of the price, but also because of the size. However, 46 mm is a “piece” of a watch,

which on average wrists may look a bit like a scaled pan, so rather not very favorable. The launch of the 43 mm size will certainly allow it to reach a new group of customers and significantly expand the number of owners of this watch icon. In addition, it will fill the gap between the relatively small 41 mm Mark XVIII and the full-size 46 mm Big Pilot.

Shield – there is strength in simplicity

The Big Pilot’s dial 43 is the essence of simplicity. But there is strength in this simplicity. So far, I have not seen a watch in which the time could be read so quickly. It takes literally a fraction of a second and we already know the current time. This is due to the almost ascetic, but extremely well thought-out shield and attention to the smallest details. The black matte dial (there is also a sunburst blue option)

is surrounded by a white minute scale and eleven luma-printed hour indices and accompanying Arabic numerals.

At 12 o’clock there is a hallmark of pilot models – an inverted triangle with two dots. In addition, the name of the company hit the dial, the inscription “automatic” and … that’s all. The power reserve indicator and the date display, known from the 46 mm version of the BP,

have been abandoned, which makes the design “cleaner”. Personally, I wouldn’t mind the date window at the bottom of the dial, and I think it’s just a matter of IWC’s release of such a 43mm Big Pilot version.

There are three centrally mounted pointers to read the time. Two of them,

hour and minute, are in the shape of a sword (the so-called sword shape) and are abundantly filled with luminous substance. In addition,

the edges of the hands are polished, reflecting the light and improving the legibility of the design (see help in reading time faster). The third to the set is the second hand, thanks to which we can be sure that the watch is still working.

Envelope

It is true that the BP “shrunk”, but the envelope did not lose its recognizable shape. It is made of steel and almost completely brushed. At the same time, this type of decoration is really visible here and gives the whole a very harsh climate. The exception is the narrow bezel and the edges of the ears,

which have been polished to a high gloss. The large, characteristic diamond-shaped crown is also polished,

which in the past made it easier for pilots to change settings during flight, when they were wearing leather gloves due to the low temperatures in the cockpit. The element was embossed with the seal “IWC – Probus Scafusia”.

For those who think that 43 mm is a small size, I would like to inform you that the lug-to-lug, i.e. the distance from the end of one ear to the end of the other,

exceeds 52 mm and the thickness is around 13.6 mm. If you wanted to measure the width of the envelope, it is 43 mm wide, but if you add a lace to it, you get more or less 48 mm. This is still a few millimeters smaller than the 46 mm Big Pilot ref. IW501015 (46.2mm x 15.6mm x 57mm) but still a lot.

Leather, rubber or steel?

The watch for the review arrived on a brown leather strap with characteristic metal rivets and light stitching. The strap on the envelope is wider, then narrows and connects to the logged buckle with a latch. Thanks to this procedure, after turning the hand, the buckle and belt do not overwhelm. I would even venture to say that seeing this part,

we would never have guessed just how massive a piece of steel is hidden on the other side.

The strap features an easy-to-replace system. In the case of the IWC, it comes down to pressing a button on the inside. Thanks to this, we can easily replace the leather with a rubber or steel bracelet. Personally, I did not make any changes, because the brown stripe suited me best.

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