IWC Ceramic Chronographs

IWC LAUNCHES CERAMIC CHRONOGRAPHS INSPIRED BY ITS COLLABORATIONS WITH U.S. NAVY SQUADRONS

IWC Schaffhausen has launched three new chronographs in its Pilot’s Watches collection. The new ceramic models are directly inspired by timepieces that the brand created in the context of its military programme in collaboration with selected squadrons of the U.S. Navy. The Pilot’s Watches Chronograph Editions “Royal Maces”, “Tophatters”, and “Blue Angels®” all feature the respective squadron patch on the dial and eye-catching details in the corresponding unit’s colour scheme.

Ever since IWC engineered the first Pilot’s Watch 85 years ago, the company has fostered an in-depth dialogue with pilots to precisely understand their specific needs and requirements. This exchange has been particularly crucial for developing the brand’s mil-spec service watches, like the Mark 11 for the British Royal Air Force. Today, IWC continues this dialogue within the frame of its military program, which emerged from the brand’s partnership with the U.S. Navy. Since 2018, IWC is licensed to work on watches for the entire U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aviation units, including Blue Angels® and the 247 active and 100 inactive squadrons. IWC has since collaborated with more than a dozen squadrons to create special editions that are exclusively available to present and former members.

Strike Fighter Squadron 27, known as the “Royal Maces”, is stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Japan and forms part of Carrier Air Wing 5. ThePilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “Royal Maces” (Ref. IW389107) is inspired by the military-exclusive edition IWC has developed with members of the squadron. The chronograph features a black zirconium oxide ceramic case. The pushers and the crown are made of Ceratanium®. The dial features the “Maces” patch at 6 o’clock and also has a yellow day-date indication. The yellow stitching on the strap, the tip of the chronograph seconds hand and the small seconds add details in the signature “Maces” colour. The case back is made of grade 5 titanium and features an engraving of the squadron’s F/A-18E Super Hornet jet next to the official squadron denomination “VFA-27”.