IWC Big Pilot's Watch Big Date Edition "150 Years"

IWC Schaffhausen celebrated its sesquicentennial in 2018—one hundred and fifty years since American watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones crossed the Atlantic, settled in Switzerland, and founded the International Watch Company. The anniversary collection spanned IWC's entire product range: Portugieser, Portofino, Da Vinci, Aquatimer, and Pilot's Watches. Most were existing models with commemorative dial treatments. The Big Pilot's Watch Big Date Edition "150 Years" was completely new—the first Big Pilot ever fitted with IWC's oversized date complication, limited to one hundred pieces per dial colour.

The Big Pilot lineage traces back to 1940 when IWC supplied the Luftwaffe with B-Uhr navigation watches—fifty-five millimetre cases, manually-wound movements, triangle-at-twelve orientation markers, oversized luminous Arabic numerals designed for cockpit legibility in darkness. Post-war collectors called them "Fliegeruhr" or simply B-Uhr. IWC revived the design in 2002 with the modern Big Pilot's Watch reference 5002—46mm case, automatic movement, same visual language as the 1940 original. Twenty-six years later, the brand added complications cautiously, preserving the uncluttered aesthetic that made pilot's watches functional instruments rather than decorative pieces.

Forty-six-point-two millimetres in brushed stainless steel. The diameter matches standard Big Pilot models—enormous by dress watch standards, appropriate for aviation instruments requiring legibility at arm's length whilst manipulating aircraft controls. Fifteen-point-two millimetres thickness. The case houses a soft-iron inner cage protecting the movement from magnetic fields generated by cockpit instruments, radio equipment, electrical systems. Sapphire crystal. Screw-down crown. Solid steel caseback engraved with "150 Years" medallion and small window revealing power reserve indicator on the movement. Sixty metres water resistance—minimal, consequence of large case dimensions and manual-winding crown design requiring seals optimised for daily manipulation rather than pressure resistance.

The dial is blue lacquer—smooth, glossy finish reflecting light uniformly. White printed oversized Arabic numerals at twelve, three, six, and nine o'clock. White printed five-minute markers creating chapter ring around dial perimeter. Triangle marker at twelve o'clock positioned beneath the big date window—subtle design choice maintaining traditional pilot's watch orientation whilst accommodating the complication. Big date display occupies twelve o'clock position using two separate discs: left disc showing tens digit (blank, 0, 1, 2, 3), right disc showing units digit (0-9). The discs advance independently, snapping crisply at midnight. Small seconds subdial at six o'clock with white printed railway track. Rhodium-plated sword hands with luminous coating. The dial maintains Big Pilot legibility whilst integrating complications that required careful positioning to avoid cluttering the layout.

Inside sits Calibre 59235—IWC's manufacture movement developed specifically for this model. Hand-wound, eight-day power reserve, thirty jewels. The 59235 is a simplified derivative of Calibre 59220 used in Portofino Hand-Wound Eight Days models. IWC removed day-of-week display and relocated power reserve indicator from dial to caseback, retaining only big date and small seconds as dial-side complications. The movement beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour. Pellaton automatic winding system removed since the calibre requires manual winding. One hundred and ninety-two-hour power reserve—eight full days between windings, exceptional autonomy for hand-wound watch. The power reserve indicator visible through caseback window shows remaining runtime via arc-shaped scale marked 0-8 days. The movement features IWC's typical Probus Scafusia finishing standards—perlage on plates, Geneva stripes on bridges, blued screws, bevelled edges.

Black alligator leather strap with tone-on-tone stitching. Stainless steel folding clasp. The strap is substantial—necessarily wide at lugs to accommodate 46.2mm case, tapering towards clasp. Alligator leather ages with wear, developing patina and softening over time whilst maintaining structural integrity better than calf leather.

Excellent condition from 2019 means minimal wear—perhaps light surface scratches on brushed steel case, slight creasing on alligator strap near pin holes, no deep marks, no structural damage. The blue lacquer dial should show no fading, no spots, no moisture damage. Full set includes large IWC presentation box (the brand uses substantial wooden boxes for Big Pilot models), outer packaging, warranty card dated 2019, instruction booklets, polishing cloth, spare strap if included. Original warranty eight years from purchase date (IWC extended warranty from two to eight years in 2020, retroactively applied to watches sold from 2018 onwards).

Limited to one hundred pieces in blue dial configuration (reference IW510503), one hundred pieces in white dial (reference IW510504). The blue dial version features rhodium-plated hands; the white dial uses blued steel hands creating higher contrast. Both sold quickly upon release—Big Pilot collectors appreciate complications added judiciously, and the big date represented first-time integration of this function in the collection's seventy-eight-year history. Secondary market values remain strong due to limited production and anniversary significance.

One hundred and fifty years of IWC watchmaking. Seventy-eight years of Big Pilot heritage. Eight-day hand-wound movement, big date complication, limited to one hundred pieces. Excellent condition, full set, 2019 purchase with extended warranty still active.