Credits: Article and images by Martin Green @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2024/04/13/iwc-has-ceramic-in-its-history-and-today-in-its-pilots-watch-collection/
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Ceratanium: the next step
In 2012, IWC started to develop the next step in material innovation, basically uniting the two materials with which they initially made name: ceramic and titanium. After five years, they were able to produce what they call Ceratanium. This is a composite that can be milled and processed like any other titanium alloy, but when you heat it, the top layers turn into ceramic.
This means that you unite the benefits of both materials. It also allows IWC to make much smaller parts from Ceratanium than they could from regular ceramics, as there is no shrinkage.
The brand introduced the material first the first time to the world with the celebration of 50 years of Aquatimer. They immediately went big, as the Ceratanium case of the Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar Digital Date- Month Edition “50 Years Aquatimer” (Ref. 3794) was an impressive 49 millimeters. Thanks to the advantages of this novel material, it was fortunately very light and scratch resistance.
IWC then closed the loop, as in 2021, it made a 1,000-piece limited edition called ‘Tribute to 3705’ (ref.387905). Here, the brand re-envisioned the first Fliegerchronograph with ceramic case, yet now using Ceratanium for the case and also making the crown and pushers from the same material.
While its appearance was quite similar to the original, underneath the Valjoux 7750 was replaced with IWC’s manufacture caliber 69380. While this watch is an ode to IWC’s heritage in ceramic, it is also a showcase for ceramic which has become part of IWC’s DNA.
For more information, please visit:
www.iwc.com/us/en/watch-collections/pilot-watches/iw503008-big-pilots-watch-perpetual-calendar-top-gun-lake-tahoe.html
www.iwc.com/us/en/watch-collections/pilot-watches/iw389402-pilot_s-watch-chronograph-41-top-gun-mojave-desert.html
www.iwc.com/us/en/watch-collections/pilot-watches/iw389404-pilot_s-watch-chronograph-41-top-gun-oceana.html
Quick Facts IWC Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Top Gun Lake Tahoe
Case: 46.5 x 15.5 mm, white ceramic case, screw-down crown, display case back
Movement: automatic Caliber 52616, 168-hour power reserve, 4 Hz/28,800 vph frequency
Functions: hours, minutes, (hacking) seconds, perpetual calendar with date, day, month, four-digit year, and moon phase on both hemispheres
Price: $40,900
Quick Facts IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Top Gun Mojave Desert
Case: 41.9 x 15.5 mm, sand ceramic case, screw-down crown, soft-iron inner case
Movement: automatic Caliber 69380, 46-hour power reserve, 4 Hz/28,800 vph frequency
Functions: hours, minutes, (hacking) seconds, chronograph, day date
Price: $11,700
Quick Facts IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Top Gun Oceana
Case: 41.9 x 15.5 mm, blue ceramic case, screw-down crown, soft-iron inner case
Movement: automatic Caliber 69380, 46-hour power reserve, 4 Hz/28,800 vph frequency
Functions: hours, minutes, (hacking) seconds, chronograph, day date
Price: $11,700
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Credits: Article and images by Martin Green @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2024/04/13/iwc-has-ceramic-in-its-history-and-today-in-its-pilots-watch-collection/