The Swiss-based International Watch Co. has just presented its new
IWC Pilot’s Watch Worldtimer (Ref. IW326201) automatic timekeeper that makes life significantly easier both for pilots and their passengers.
The new watch offers functionality, which
is similar to that of the gorgeous Girard-Perregaux WW.TC chronograph.
The watch lacks a secondary hours hand, but, according to the Swiss watchmaker, its setting crown allows to easily change the position of the only hour hand in 1-hour increments both clockwise and counterclockwise.
Its self-winding movement (IWC doesn’t specify the name of the caliber in its press release) even counts in the International Date Line moving the date backward or forward as you move the hour hand.
The black dial of the watch also provides enough living space for a 24-hour display of the “world timer” function. Once correctly set, the disk, which is clearly separated for “day” and “night” areas, will tell you current time in every major city in each respective time zone.
For example, on the photo above the IWC Worldtimer reads 10:10:33 in the home zone, 19:10:33 in Paris, and 2:10:33 in Beijing.
As usual for IWC’s pilot’s watches, the date window, which is placed at 3 o’clock, is shaped as a semi-arc providing enough space for the three dates: previous, current and next.
All things considered, my only complaint about this watch would be its heroic proportions.
Measuring whole 45 millimeters in diameter, the new IWC Pilot’s Watch Worldtimer Automatic is just too big for it to be worn with a business suit or some other kind of formal attire and too dressy to go with a jumpsuit.
Thankfully, with its width of 13.50 millimeters, the watch is slender enough not to cause any trouble even with tight-cuffed shirts.
IWC Pilot’s Watch Worldtimer Automatic (Ref. IW326201) watch specification Price: TBD
Movement: Automatic, hacking seconds, put in a soft-iron inner cage for protection against magnetic fields, Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 31
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Movement decoration: N/A
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, second time zone (GMT)
Power reserve: 42 hours
Case material: Stainless steel
Bezel material: Matches case
Crown material: Matches case
Case shape: Round
Bezel shape: Round
Case size: 45.00 mm
Case height: 13.50 mm
Lug width: N/A
Dial: Black
Numerals: Arabic, luminous
Hour markers: Luminous
Hands: Luminous
Water resistance: 60 m
Strap: Black alligator leather strap
Crystal: Sapphire, convex, antireflective on both sides
Case back: Solid
IWC Pilot’s Watch Worldtimer Automatic (Ref. IW326201) watch specification Price: TBD
Movement: Automatic, hacking seconds, put in a soft-iron inner cage for protection against magnetic fields, Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 31
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Movement decoration: N/A
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, second time zone (GMT)
Power reserve: 42 hours
Case material: Stainless steel
Bezel material: Matches case
Crown material: Matches case
Case shape: Round
Bezel shape: Round
Case size: 45.00 mm
Case height: 13.50 mm
Lug width: N/A
Dial: Black
Numerals: Arabic, luminous
Hour markers: Luminous
Hands: Luminous
Water resistance: 60 m
Strap: Black alligator leather strap
Crystal: Sapphire, convex, antireflective on both sides
Case back: Solid
IWC Pilot’s Watch Worldtimer Automatic (Ref. IW326201) watch specification Price: TBD
Movement: Automatic, hacking seconds, put in a soft-iron inner cage for protection against magnetic fields, Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 31
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Movement decoration: N/A
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, second time zone (GMT)
Power reserve: 42 hours
Case material: Stainless steel
Bezel material: Matches case
Crown material: Matches case
Case shape: Round
Bezel shape: Round
Case size: 45.00 mm
Case height: 13.50 mm
Lug width: N/A
Dial: Black
Numerals: Arabic, luminous
Hour markers: Luminous
Hands: Luminous
Water resistance: 60 m
Strap: Black alligator leather strap
Crystal: Sapphire, convex, antireflective on both sides
Case back: Solid