IWC Launches Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN “Woodland”

Released in time for the Watches & Wonders 2022 event, IWC Schaffhausen unveils a special green ceramic model named the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN “Woodland” edition. Its push-pieces, crown and caseback are all executed in matte black Ceratanium – a proprietary material developed in-house at the company’s manufacturing facilities. The annual production of the new model, alongside the new IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN “Lake Tahoe” watch, will be limited to 1000 pieces.

The new IWC Big Pilot’s Chronograph TOP GUN “Woodland” Edition watch puts focus on the maison’s advanced research and development in case materials and a careful balancing of all other elements within this unique design.

Advancements in ceramic case manufacture

With a hardness and lightness that surpasses that of stainless steel and a scratch resistance that comes second only to diamonds – ceramic has been a preferred choice of material for IWC Schaffhausen and many of its most popular watches, like those from the IWC Pilot’s Watch collection. IWC Schaffhausen first used ceramic within the Pilot’s Watch collection with the release of its Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Ceramic ref. 3705 back in 1994 but had been experimenting with this material in different colours for some years before. The process involves combining zirconium oxide with several other metallic oxides to achieve a different colour using specific mixing ratios. Temperature and sintering processes also come into play – each one adapted to suit the requirement of the watch’s unique shade.

About the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN design

The design of the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph originated in the 1940s and was initially known as the "Baumuster A" (Type A) watch. It featured sword-shaped hands, Arabic numeral and luminous indices – all of which still appear on modern IWC Pilot’s Watches today, including the company’s chronographs, with added day-date displays and superior anti-magnetic technology in the form of a soft-iron inner cage. Many Pilot’s Watch Chronographs have a caseback inscribed by a famous aircraft like the P-38, the Spitfire or the Ju-52. The collection is incredibly dynamic and is home to several case sizes, styles and materials.

One particular sub-category of this pilot’s watch collection by IWC Schaffhausen is the TOP GUN series, characterised by its extraordinary cases crafted from a special titanium-ceramic alloy named Ceratanium. Up until recent years, these watches had always been noted for their sleek matte black finish. These models forged a unique DNA of their own with their black zirconium oxide ceramic cases and titanium casebacks, however, more recently we’ve seen the maison experiment further, developing its first sand-coloured ceramic model named the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN Edition “Mojave Desert”, which we covered in more detail here. Today, two new chronographs in white and green ceramic mark a new chapter to the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN story. Both have been unveiled in time for Watches & Wonders 2022. In this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at the new IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN “Woodland” green ceramic watch.

The new IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN “Woodland” edition IW389106

The new IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN “Woodland” edition ref. IW389106, limited to 1000 pieces, is inspired by the flight suits of naval aviators. Christoph Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen extends on the importance of the evolving TOP GUN series as a collection:

“These new chronographs not only underscore IWC’s longstanding and extensive experience in the fields of in-house chronographs and advanced materials. The white and green ceramic used for the cases also illustrates the current evolution of TOP GUN from a collection primarily focused on performance to a bold style statement and an expression of a distinct way of life. The colour codes of US Navy uniforms and the landscapes used as training grounds by naval aviators have inspired our new chronographs. In an unprecedented engineering process, we have developed two completely new ceramic colours – ‘Lake Tahoe White’ and ‘Woodland Green’ – and matched meticulously all other components of the watches to these new shades”

Classic military colours used in the TOP GUN watch series by IWC is a frequently seen thing. The green shade of this newly developed ceramic colour, however, is a first. The green hue is reiterated in the dial, whilst other elements such as the Arabic numerals and minute markers are presented in a shade lighter. The 60-meter water-resistant case, which measures a diameter on the wrist of 44.5mm features a matte black Ceratanium case, push-pieces and crown. Shades of black are echoed in the central hands and have been treated with luminous material to assist with timekeeping at night. The chronograph dials are seen at 12, 6 and 9 o’clock offering 30-minute, small second and 12-hour functions respectively. These are shown at 12, 6 and 9 o’clock respectively and are accompanied by a day-date feature at 3 o'clock.

The new IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN “Woodland” watch is powered by the reliable and powerful Calibre 69380, which features a column-wheel design, as well as a soft iron inner cage that protects the movement from damage caused by magnetic fields. As an extra layer of protection – the anti-reflective and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass front on the watch is sealed against displacement caused by sudden drops in air pressure. The movement produces a power reserve of 46 hours and is concealed behind a special TOP GUN-engraved caseback.

To complete its sleek pilot instrument look, the new IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph “Woodland” limited edition watch in green ceramic is fitted on a green rubber strap with a textile inlay and a classic pin buckle fastening. For more information on IWC Schaffhausen’s latest Watches & Wonders 2022 releases, call and speak to a member of our Jura Watches sales team today on 01335 453453 or check out all of the new 2022 watch releases here.