IWC Pilot's Watch - Spitfire Chronograph
There are many luxury watches available today that have
some connection with flight. The Rolex GMT Master, for
example, will forever be associated with Pan-Am and the
glamour of being a commercial pilot in the 1950s, when much
of the populace had not been near a plane, let alone
travelled to far flung continents on one. But it is IWC that can, arguably, lay claim to possessing one
of the longest associations with flight, having supplied
watches to military pilots since before the Second World
War.
Which brings us to the IWC Pilots’ Watch Spitfire
Chronograph, which has earned its place on The List by
combining the timeless style of the company’s traditional
Pilots’ Watch with an automatic chronograph movement, whilst
retaining the simplicity and clean lines for which the
company is famous.
The Spitfire Chronograph, named after the renowned
fighter plane, uses a familiar Valjoux 7750 movement, which
features 24 jewels and a 44 hour power reserve, and is
modified in-house by IWC. Water resistance is to 60 metres
and there is also a soft iron inner case to provide
protection against magnetism.
Choice is limited to type of strap: steel or brown
crocodile leather. In our opinion, the latter is the one to
go for, as it enables the Spitfire Chronograph to perform
the dual role of sports and dress watch; something that
IWC’s competitors have struggled to achieve (nil points to
Breitling and Rolex, then.)
It is a fairly wide watch at 42mm, but not overly deep,
and does not swamp a narrower wrist like some
aerospace-influenced timepieces. With the leather strap, it
is also, fairly light, although there is a feeling of
solidity to it (albeit not so much that you would wish to
wear it when competing in more boisterous sports.)
Like most IWCs it is stylish in an understated and simple
way and is certainly not the type of watch generally
purchased by those who view their timepieces as little more
than external indicators of bank balances. IWC, fortunately,
does not have the same brand presence in the minds of the
nouveau riches as certain
watch manufacturers.
One of the cleverest things about the Spitfire
Chronograph is its ability to successfully tread
the line between vintage and modern, without ever appearing
like a pastiche of past glories. It is functional yet
elegant and speaks volumes about its wearer to those who
appreciate fine timepieces. That it does not feel out of
place in either formal or informal environments is merely
the icing on a very desirable cake.
