uhren-schmuck.de

Sie sind hier  :  Home Uhren- und Schmuck-News Markennews

zurück

Uhren-News drucken

(u-s:b /IWC) The Big Pilot's Watch ref. 5002 from IWC International Watch Co.: For all men with flying aspirations. With the courage to match its size. With a 7-day automatic movement and Pellaton winding mechanism. And with all the other attributes of a professional on-board instrument. Produced by one of the most experienced manufacturers of pilot's watches. Please fasten your safety belt:

Everything about it is out of the ordinary: the mechanical automatic movement, the seven-day power reserve, the solid case, the dial and the hands, and even the crown. This also makes it one of the most unusual watches of our time. It answers to an equally simple and appropriate name: The Big Pilot's Watch ref. 5002. It comes, naturally, from IWC International Watch Co. in Schaffhausen, a manufacturer specialising in out-of-the-ordinary technical solutions, which had already introduced watches successfully in the field of aviation in 1930.
The Big Pilot's Watch, with its imposing 46 mm case diameter, 15.8 mm height and a take-off weight of 150 grams - including a leather strap and folding clasp - embodies a new dimension of professionalism in the market for oversize watches intended for aviation, or which look as if they are. As the new flagship, or more appropriately airship, this most recent development heads the impressive fleet of pilot's watches from IWC, from the Mark XV to the UTC
pilot's watch. It is also the largest wristwatch currently in production in Schaffhausen, and indeed only the second
largest ever produced in the history of the factory.
In other words, it is the ultimate watch for the aspirational pilot in every man. Whether he actually takes off on a high-altitude flight, or whether he is satisfied in the mere knowledge that he could do so if he wished. At this point and while on this subject, here is a small historical footnote: sorry, but all the major aviation pioneers, from the Wright brothers via Otto Lilienthal to Charles Lindbergh, were men. The triggering "take-off gene" has not yet been narrowed down to a specific gender. Yet its existence was already confirmed by the very first aviators referred to in human history. And the Icarus phenomenon, that immortal code for boundless pioneering spirit and daring, finds its clearest expression in the Big Pilot's Watch from IWC. Purely externally, through its shape, functionality and size. But also internally in the form of a mechanical watch drive mechanism, the likes of which will not be seen again. Not in aviation, and not in ground-based watchmaking.

Watchmaking on a large scale is embodied in the Big Pilot's Watch
The fact that an IWC pilot's watch has never yet been defined and produced primarily from the outside, but always initially from the inside, is demonstrated by the long series of airworthy special watches from the company, about which it is sometimes said that their plainness has the austere charm of the tableware used by the Swiss Army. That is not quite right, of course. What is true, however, is that the watchmakers and designers at IWC do not include any air when they create their impressively sleek models for the wrist, and they dispense with every superfluous optical embellishment. It would nevertheless be false to conclude that the idea never even entered their head. Entirely false. Because, on the contrary, they follow the wise guiding principle of another great aviation hero, namely Antoine de Saint-ExupŽry, who once said, "When building a machine,
for example, you must leave out more and more, until at the end only the essential remains, and only then will
it be perfect".
Precisely the same thing applies to the Big Pilot's Watch from IWC, of which the respectable external dimensions are purely the result of the decision to give it the very best automatic movement currently available for this application, the calibre 5011 from the IWC calibre 5000 family. For with a diameter of more than 38 mm, this clearly fills the bill.
This automatic movement in pocket watch format, the only one of its kind in the world, was presented for the first time in a limited edition of Portuguese watches (with a small seconds hand and without a date) in the year 2000 and has thus entered the second stage of development. This unequalled watch drive mechanism is, as connoisseurs are already aware, the improved and optimized oversize version of the legendary IWC calibre 8541 automatic movement. Earlier renowned, particularly long-lived and technically oriented watches like
the Ingenieur or the Yacht Club were equipped with this movement. All of these today are at the very top of collectors' hit lists.

The power of IWC = 168 hour power reserve
The principle of the pawl winding mechanism already developed by the horological genius Albert Pellaton in Schaffhausen at the end of the forties has been revived in the calibre 5000 and its descendants. This technical solution, in which reciprocating pawls act on a toothed wheel and the smallest movement of the arm is also utilized for winding the watch, had for decades assured the technological superiority of IWC automatic watches. For example, this system is not subject to the familiar wear in the rotor bearings and reduction gear of other designs. The rotor itself is even spring mounted. The Pellaton winding mechanism is thus regarded as being unmatched to this day thanks to its robustness, ease of servicing and
efficiency.
That is not all, however: a new addition to the calibre 5000 family is the layout of the spring, the barrel and the entire design of the full seven-day power reserve. All the parts, on which such spring
forces act, are dimensioned accordingly. A long self-contained power reserve of this kind necessarily includes a clear power reserve display on the dial. This incorporates a special IWC feature: an integrated differential drive mechanism with a mechanical stop device arrests the movement before the force of the spring runs down fully, more specifically after precisely 168 hours or seven days. The watch could, in fact, continue to run for more than one extra day with the remaining spring energy. But it will be stopped after a week, if no kinetic energy is supplied to it, to ensure that the accuracy remains stable from the first to the last minute. Behind this intricate design lies the horological consideration that the physically unavoidable and unfavourable end torque of the mainspring must not be permitted to make its effect felt in this way. The power of IWC can thus be translated as: 168 hours' accuracy.
Additional details, such as the screw balance with its Breguet spring, adjustment cams on the balance limbs and 18000 semi oscillations, also identify this advanced school of precision watchmaking. A particularly intricate means of precision adjustment was adopted from the old "Ingenieur" watch.
Even the escapement of this horological oversize calibre originates from the
Mark XI which, as an official pilot's watch, had previously passed all the quality and accuracy tests of the Royal Air Force for a "Navigator Wrist Watch". All of this together endows the Big Pilot's Watch with effortless chronometer accuracy. Without a certificate.
The design of the movement of the new pilot's watch was extended to include a date display at "6 o'clock" with quick changing in a forward direction and the central seconds hand that is essential for aeronautical use, the drive for which does not lie directly in the power flux of the train. Consideration was also given to small and important details: on the seventh day of operation of the power reserve or, to put it another way, after 165 hours, the date changes three hours before the movement is stopped mechanically, so that the change sequence continues to take place with entire reliability.

Optimal protection against magnetic fields for the movement
Professionalism in the case of the Big Pilot's Watch naturally also includes optimal protection against magnetic fields, which extends far beyond the standard of 4800 A/m for antimagnetic watches. The Big Pilot's Watch has been tested up to 32000 A/m - while still retaining full efficiency. In order to achieve these fantastic values, use is made of a soft iron inner case of the kind already utilized by IWC in pilot's watches in 1940, in the first "big" pilot's watch, which provides all-round screening for the movement. This naturally also had its effect on the case dimensions. The dial, movement ring and a double back are all made from this ferromagnetic material, which absorbs all magnetic fields which may influence the watch and in so doing keeps them from the actual movement mechanism. The small date window is the only remaining minimal point of entry for magnetic forces. IWC had also attempted, in its early Ingenieur models, to close this opening with date display rings made of soft iron. However, the resulting new problems (weight) encountered when changing the date were not in an acceptable proportion to the
additional protection afforded.
The soft iron cage and the associated extreme protection against magnetic fields is no "ideological" whim of the IWC engineers, but has since become a quality feature of all particularly durable watch production. This was an absolute must in the confined surroundings of the cockpits of older aircraft in particular with their numerous electrical devices. In our everyday lives, in which we are surrounded by more or less strong magnetic fields from countless electrical
devices, such screening of the watch movements is an important condition for accurate running.
All technical features of this watch thus adhere uncompromisingly to a single requirement: airworthiness. And this means robustness, reliability and full functionality, including under the most unfavourable conditions. The dial and indices are coated with Superluminova. The sapphire glass is specially protected against a sudden drop in air pressure and is anti-reflecting, in order to ensure legibility of the watch under all conditions. In a modern interpretation of the specification, a top-class pilot's watch includes the aforementioned date display with quick setting, large seconds hand, screw-in back, screw-in crown and tested water-resistance to 60 metres. All of which makes for a watch that is reliable, robust and intricate - just like the aviation sector itself.

The predecessor from 1940 - with experience of use
The Big Pilot's Watch from IWC has, as collectors already know, a similarly named predecessor with a wartime past. It is a legend among connoisseurs, because between 1940 and 1945 there were only a few hundred of these watches in their grey stainless steel case with the modified, gold-plated precision calibre 52 S.C. (for Centre Seconde) pocket watch movement. This "oversize device" produced for the German Air Force according to the criteria for military observation watches (B watches) was, with a case diameter of 55 mm, a height of 16.5 mm and a weight of 183 grams, the largest "wristwatch" ever produced by IWC. Its long leather strap allowed it to be worn by the pilot in an easily readable position on top of his flying suit. And the above-mentioned principle of a movement completely encapsulated in soft iron was used here for the first time in a wristwatch. Yet it was neither water-
resistant nor shock-proof.
Ten years previously IWC had already introduced a special watch for pilots, which featured an antimagnetic escapement. And by the start of the last century the Schaffhausen factory had already earned an outstanding reputation as a manufacturer of observation watches in pocket watch format, which were ordered by the British and German Admiralties. So its roots go back a long way.

The Big Pilot's Watch is: watchmaking on a large scale
The Big Pilot's Watch has inherited a number of indispensable styling points, such as the functional pilot's watch dial with the clear hour and minute markings or the user-friendly crown, from its direct predecessor, the timepiece conceived for military service. The riveted strap made of dark brown buffalo leather with its practical button closure is more of a visual reminder of the old days, however, and it is worn directly on the arm and
not over the clothes.
With the aforementioned predecessor or the earlier observation and pilot's watches, however, this new development combines the unconditional wish to
produce the best possible watch for use in extreme conditions of service with currently available resources and knowledge. And this calls for lavish watchmaking on a large scale. The opportunities for this today are different and far greater than in 1940. Or indeed in 1930, when the first "special watch for pilots" took to the skies. Up to and including the sought-after Mark XI (1948-1984), all pilot's watches from IWC were equipped with solid manual winders. Only subsequent models, such as the Mark XII,
the later Mark XV, the current pilot's chronographs and the UTC pilot's
watch, were modernized and automated. A 7-day automatic movement still did not have one. Since this movement existed, however, it was the first choice for a pilot's watch in the superlative.
The result is a timepiece which does not only appear to be, but which actually is "flight qualified". And one which, like all IWC pilot's watches, derives its authenticity yet again from the combination of long experience and horological progress by a factory that has always set the time signal - on land, at sea and in the air. The Big Pilot's Watch is a signal of this kind for horological maximum performance and authenticity. It is a new original in the history of watches.
A "man" cannot actually adorn himself with this watch, which will be produced in a stainless steel and a limited series of a 500 pieces in platinum. The aforementioned "take-off gene" in men has not yet been identified by biomedical science, as stated above. We do know that it exists, however. Of that we are certain.

Autor:  http://www.iwc.ch
IWC 

Service: kostenlose Anfragen von IWC - bei Uhren- und Schmuck-Händlern der Marke IWC.