For decades, the pilots of the Swiss Air Force display team have been wowing international air show crowds with the precision and perfection of their formation flying.
The Big Pilot’s Watch Edition “Patrouille Suisse” is the ideal companion for ambitious high-flyers. This special edition, presented in grey, is with a case of blasted stainless steel featuring the characteristic design elements that make this professional timepiece for pilots instantly identifiable. This timepiece is integrated with the 51011 caliber, the largest automatic movement manufactured by IWC. Within no time at all, the spring-mounted rotor and Pellaton pawl-winding system build up a power reserve of over 7 days, and after exactly 168 hours the movement is mechanically stopped by an ingenious train in the power reserve. Stopping the movement before all the tension in the spring has been exhausted eliminates the danger of diminishing torque in the mainspring. This ensures the same level of accuracy the whole time the watch is running. The power reserve display at “3 o’clock” provides a reliable indication of the time remaining until the movement comes to a stop. A special feature of the Big Pilot’s Watch Edition “Patrouille Suisse” is the small seconds at “9 o’clock”, symmetrically opposite the power reserve display. The date display is at “6 o’clock” as usual. The 46-millimetre case encloses a soft-iron cage that protects the movements against extreme magnetic fields.
The design of the Big Pilot’s Watch Edition “Patrouille Suisse” is inspired on IWC's 52 T.S.C. Big Pilot’s Watch of 1940, style icon of all classic pilot’s watches. A clearly organized dial, the arrowhead index at “12 o’clock” and the bold, luminescent numerals and hands guarantee minute-perfect legibility of the time regardless of lighting conditions. The Big Pilot’s Watch is the only model made by IWC Schaffhausen to feature such an imposing crown - a reminder of those pioneering days of aviation. The current stainless steel variant is rounded off by an anthracite-coloured wristband of embossed calfskin with a folding clasp.
The case back features an engraving of three jet planes resembling the Northrop F-5E Tiger II – the planes the Patrouille Suisse pilots use to perform their aerial displays. The inscription “Tribute to Patrouille Suisse” and the consecutive numbering on the case back indicate the exclusivity of this special edition limited to only 250 pieces.
The Big Pilot’s Watch Edition “Patrouille Suisse” will be available from September 2015 at IWC boutiques in Switzerland and from Swiss retailers, then later at IWC boutiques worldwide.
