Watch Review: IWC Schaffhausen’s Big Pilot 7-Day Power Reserve in White Gold (IW500402)
The luxury watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen has been crafting exquisite wristwatches since 1868. Over the years, the universally renowned Swiss company has created a variety of high quality, sophisticated and intricately designed timepieces. The IWC’s impressive reputation has resulted in a strong following, which includes some of the worlds greatest tennis legends and award winning actors, and last week, Luxe Watches welcomed the arrival of one of IWC’s most popular models, the Big Pilot 7 Day Power Reserve in white gold (IW500402).
The superb and classic looking timepiece is known mostly for its impressive power reserve and unique design that was inspired by the appearance of cockpit instruments. The IW500402 somewhat echoes the vintage design of the IWC’s original Big Pilot wristwatch Ref. IW431, a timepiece the ‘Luftwaffe’ (German Air Force) relied on during flights throughout 1940. Although the much older model boasts a larger dial measuring a sizeable 55 mm, the newer models’ 46 mm dial remains distinctively large, a feature that allows the watch to be instantly recognised as the IWC Big Pilot.
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The timepiece features an arrowhead located at 12 o’clock, and quarter hour markers, which have all been conveniently created with luminous materials to guarantee the times visibility even in the darkness. The turnip-styled screw in crown allows the time and date settings to be altered with ease, and also adds an authentic vintage appeal. The Big Pilot’s grey dial features a date indicator that is clearly visible and uniquely located on the half-past marker. An additional power reserve indicator can also be found situated next to the 3 o’clock marker, to ensure that you’re constantly informed on how much power the watch has remaining.
The IWC wristwatch, which boasts a 15.8 mm thick 18-carat white gold case, is water-resistant to a depth of 60 meters (or 200 feet), and also possesses a scratch resistant sapphire glass to prevent abrasions and glare, allowing the dial to be legible at all times. Although the size of the Big Pilot may concern some collectors, the traditional leather strap is surprisingly comfortable to wear and holds the watch well on both small and large wrists.
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Now onto the feature that has guaranteed the Big Pilot’s persistent success, the extraordinary internal 7-day power reserve. The timepieces’ powerful feature is so impressive that The Hour Glass has included the model in its list of ‘five watches with exceptional power reserves’. The Big Pilot’s complex and mighty power reserve, which outlasts the average automatic and winder watch by more than 5 days, is a result of IWC’s in-house manufactured Calibre 51111 mechanical movement with an Albert Pellaton winding system.
The Big Pilot’s design is not too ostentatious to be worn everyday, yet the sophisticated 18-carat case and elegantly patterned leather strap ensures that all formal attire’s are also fittingly complimented. One individual who enjoys wearing his IWC Big Pilot on photo-shoots, day trips and whilst attending red carpet events, is the famous ‘American Sniper’ actor, Bradley Cooper. Although Coopers Big Pilot is the IW500901 model, his choice in wristwatch proves that the Pilot’s watches remain a popular and versatile timepiece.
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The IWC’s Big Pilot wristwatch certainly lives up to the company’s motto, “IWC Probus Scafusia”, meaning “good, solid craftsmanship from Schaffhausen”.
For more information regarding the IWC Big pilot 7-Day Power Reserve White Gold IW500402 we currently have in stock, click here.