IWC Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 Black Aces

The aviation affiliation is strong within the IWC Schaffhausen brand, due to various releases along the years which highlight historic flights and pilots, throughout several distinct collections in their watch catalog. After over 85 years of crafting mechanical instruments with pilots in mind, this has inspired and shone a light on many moments of aviation history. This latest release is another special edition made in collaboration with the US Navy, specifically tailored for professional jet pilots linked to the Strike Fighter Squadron 41 (VFA-41), also known by the moniker “Black Aces”. This is a fighter-jet squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore, in California."The 41 mm case is made of black ceramic which is crafted out of the highly scratch resistant matte black zirconium oxide ceramic. Compared to the “Mark XX” model, this edition is slightly larger both in terms of width and thickness with 11.4 mm in height. The use of a matte-black color guarantees that pilots remain undistracted by sunlight that might reflect off their watches.On the flip-side is a steel screw-on caseback engraved with a fighter-jet emblem. The silhouette may seem a bit generic, but the sentiment remains for pilots that have graced the sky in these feats of engineering. This case features a soft-iron inner case for protection against magnetic fields. It also comes equipped with a large sandblasted stainless-steel screw-in crown embossed with the IWC logo, plus a machined circumference to provide firm grip for quick-sets.All topped by a convex sapphire glass with an anti-reflective coating on both sides. This crystal has also been secured against displacement by a drop in air pressure. Water-resistance can reach up to 60 meters (196 feet).Time is exhibited on a fully luminous white dial with black printed Arabic numerals and the iconic IWC “triangle” with a dot on each side, located at the 12 o’clock position. While circling around the flange is a black printed minute track.This edition is further characterized by the pilot theme at the 6 o’clock position where we find the “Black Aces” emblem. The design is essentially the “ace of spades” from a deck of playing cards with a red line running across it diagonally. The thin black central seconds hand also has a touch of red on its tip. Together these two elements add an extra hue to the overall color palette.  The central black plated propeller-style hands have been fitted with a luminescent coating, but the Arabic numerals and minute index markers haven’t any at all. Since the majority of the dial is permeated with a green lume, the numerals and markers all have their legibility enhanced due to the background contrast.

IWC Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 Black Aces

The “IWC Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 Black Aces” (Ref#: IW326905) is powered by the ValFleurier (which is a Richemont Group’s owned production) self-winding mechanical movement, caliber 32100 with 21 jewels, and 28,800 vph. Power reserve can last up to 72 hours (5 days), when fully wound.Mounted to the watch is a black textile strap with a leather lining and tone-on-tone stitching, secured by a sandblasted steel pin buckle. This watch is available exclusively through IWC.com. For more up to date information visit the official IWC Schaffhausen website here.

IWC Schaffhausen, IWC, Big Pilot’s, Black Aces, Mark, Pilot, Luxury Watches