In 2007, the IWC Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph Top Gun emerged as a unique creation within the soon-to-be-established Top Gun series, representing a noteworthy milestone in IWC Schaffhausen’s legacy of crafting pilot’s watches. Thanks to an extensive history of creating aviation instruments for over 70 years, IWC had already garnered a distinguished reputation in the realm of professional pilot timepieces. Nevertheless, the IW3799 model surpassed expectations, standing out as one of the very special and appealing pilot’s watches ever created by the brand.
This extraordinary timepiece showcased a striking 46mm matt black ceramic case, complemented by a subdued matt grey titanium crown and pushers. The meticulously crafted details on both the dial and the case further enhanced its allure. The discreet inclusion of the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School Top Gun emblem was particularly intriguing, subtly positioned on the side and adorning the screw-down titanium back of the watch.
A notable highlight of the IW379901 was its double chronograph movement, known as Calibre 79230, which was the upgraded iteration of the esteemed Calibre 79030 introduced in 1991. Calibre 79230 carried historical significance for the brand. The credit for its development was rightfully attributed to Günter Blümlein (1943-2001) and Richard Habring. The former, an influential figure in IWC’s illustrious history, played a pivotal role in revitalizing the brand’s mechanical watchmaking. During the early 1990s, he spearheaded the renaissance of the Pilot’s Watch line. He also inspired gifted engineers like Habring to create in-house modules for externally sourced movements, mainly from ETA and Valjoux.
Habring ingeniously devised a streamlined split-seconds chronograph module based on the dependable Valjoux 7750 movement. This module proved exceptionally reliable, easy to produce on a large scale as well as serviceable. The resulting IWC Calibre 79030 became the first-ever mass-produced split-seconds mechanism, essential to the brand’s reinvigoration. Subsequently, the movement underwent further refinements, evolving into Calibre 79230 with an upgraded regulation system in 1996 and later Calibre 79420 in 2012. Despite Habring’s subsequent accomplishments and ventures, his groundbreaking complication continued to power the IWC Pilot’s Watch Double Chronographs for decades following its initial introduction. It was therefore not surprising that the 2007 edition of the Double Chronograph Top Gun reference was equipped with the esteemed Calibre 79230, which had by then been powering IWC Double Chronograph Reference 3713 (1996-2005) for over ten years and Reference 3718 since 2005.
The dial of the IW3799 proved as captivating as the movement it housed. Drawing inspiration from earlier IWC Doppelchronograph models, the black dial displayed white markings and featured a luminous triangle at 12 o’clock. The recessed chronograph registers at 6 and 12 o’clock conveyed a sense of understated elegance, featuring only simple lines and a few numerals. Further augmenting the dial’s aviation-themed allure, the date window adopted the appearance of an aircraft altimeter, prompting the relocation of the ‘IWC Schaffhausen’ text logo within the running seconds subdial, replacing the numeral ‘60.’ The red counterweights adorning the chronograph hands artistically converged to form the silhouette of a fighter jet, while the running seconds hand boasted a vibrant red hue. The resulting overall composition exuded a masculine and utilitarian charm reminiscent of cockpit instruments and proficiently measured events with utmost precision.
Enveloped in a commanding yet comfortable ceramic case, measuring 17.8mm thick to accommodate the added split-seconds mechanism, the IW379901 delivered a harmonious blend of form and function. To safeguard the movement against magnetic fields, an inner soft iron case was thoughtfully integrated. The 2007 Top Gun series notably marked the advent of the Ceramic Injection Moulding method in ceramic case manufacturing for IWC, effectively supplanting the intricate and time-consuming procedures previously employed.
The IWC Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph Top Gun Ceramic, Reference IW379901, masterfully captured the essence of IWC’s prestigious lineage of pilot’s watches, while harmoniously incorporating contemporary design elements. Manufactured until 2011, it continues to retain its uniqueness and desirability, bearing witness to a significant chapter in IWC’s enduring legacy. The success of this first Top Gun model led IWC to establish an independent line of Top Gun watches in 2012. Since then, the company has produced more iterations of the IWC Top Gun timepieces that are reliable, innovative and powerfully built for skyborne adventurers.
IWC Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph Top Gun Ceramic
CASE: matte black ceramic, with matt grey titanium crown and pushers
DIMENSIONS: 46mm diameter, 17.8mm thick
MOVEMENT: Cal. 79230, self-winding
FUNCTIONS: hours, minutes, seconds, split-seconds chronograph, day, date
DIAL: black, with white markings and red elements
STRAP: black fabric, secured with a pin buckle
LAUNCH YEAR: 2007
This year GMT Magazine and WorldTempus have embarked on the ambitious project of summarising the chronograph since the year 2000 in The Millennium Watch Book - Chronographs, a big, beautifully laid out coffee table book. This article is an extract. The Millennium Watch Book - Chronographs is available in both French and English here.
