IWC is very well known for being pioneers in introducing new materials. It was in 1980 when IWC presented the world’s first watch made out of titanium, the Porsche Design Chrono. And it was only six years later in 1986 when IWC presented the very first watch made out of ceramic with the Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar. The IWC Pilot’s Watch Timezoner however, exists from an even more advanced material.
The best of titanium and ceramic
Both materials have their own advantages, the lightness of titanium and the scratch resistance of ceramic. So why not develop a material which combines the best of both materials? IWC took on the challenge and started the developing process of a new material. It took IWC 8 years until Ceratanium™ was ready to present it to the world. First edition was the IWC Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month Edition 50 Years in 2017. The surface of this special alloy will transform during a firing process. It will get a black surface which has the scratch resistance of ceramic.
Pilot’s watches in Ceratanium
The very first pilots watch where Ceratanium™ was used, is the Mark XVIII Edition Hodinkee. In 2019 IWC launched the IWC Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph Top Gun in Ceratanium™ and now IWC is extending their pilots family with the IWC Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Top Gun Ceratanium™ and Big Pilot’s watch Perpetual Calendar Top Gun Ceratanium™.
IWC Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Top Gun Ceratanium
The Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Top Gun Ceratanium™ is for me the direct successor of the legendary first Top Gun Perpetual Calendar from 2012. In addition to the Ceratanium™ case, IWC is presenting for the first time also a bracelet fully made out of Ceratanium™.
Not a lot of people will know it, but a prototype of that bracelet was already available around 2016/2017 for the Aquatimer, and then later used for Lewis Hamilton’s Black Lives Matter Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar. Compared to a regular steel bracelet, the Ceratanium™ version is around 30 percent lighter.
The best wingman
The IWC manufactured caliber 52615 with its Pellaton winding system, can be viewed through the sapphire glass case back. The phenomenal jet black design and gray numbers make the Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar Top Gun Ceratanium™ the best wingman you can get.
