.IWC Big Pilot Stainless Steel ref: IW5004-01, IW500401 full set Box & Papers

IWC Big Pilot Stainless Steel ref: IW5004-01, IW500401 full set Box & Papers

Since 2002, the Big Pilot’s Watch has been IWC’s flagship. Its IWC-manufactured 51111 calibre – one of the largest automatic movements in the world – contains all the features that have proved their worth in the long history of IWC mechanical watches.

Within no time at all, the automatic movement generates a power reserve of 8.5 days, but only runs for 7 days before being mechanically stopped by an ingenious little train in the power reserve. This eliminates the fall-off in torque that occurs as the mainspring winds down, which could lead to loss of amplitude in the balance and unacceptable inaccuracies in the rate.

Case: 46mm, Stainless Steel 

Dial: black, with power reserve dial and date window

Strap: black IWC alligator strap with IWC folding deployment buckle

Movement: Automatic self-winding 7-day power reserve movement with date indication

Condition: Watch is pre-owned in absolutely excellent collector condition having barley been ever worn. Watch comes complete with IWC’s presentation boxes, booklets and original warranty card.

It started in 1940 when IWC produced 1,000 military navigators’ watches. These oversized “B-Uhr” watches had distinctive dials and pocket watch movements converted to central seconds.

In 2002, IWC took its new automatic movement, changed it to central seconds, and revealed a modern B-Uhr. Called the “Grosse Fliegeruhr” or Big Pilot’s Watch, the model (5002) was special. An extra-large watch with a diameter of 46.2 mm, the dial design was like its 1940 ancestor with an added eight-day power reserve. This original Big Pilot’s Watch was produced in a few variations, in steel and two limited editions in platinum, plus a “transitional” model in 2006 with a new, faster beat movement.

Reference 5002 was bold but still wearable. It was cutting-edge: a modern watch with a special new movement. It still was simple in design and easily readable. It evoked history and the entire flight watch tradition. It was both traditional and contemporary.

That model then was subtly redesigned in 2006 as reference IW5004xx. The numeral 9 on the dial disappeared and now numerals at 2 and 4 o’clock on the dial were partially shown. The strap was upgraded from buffalo to alligator. The movement was improved to a faster beat, first calibre 51110 in 2006 and then calibre 51111 in 2007. The redesigned watch looked slightly dressier and was more versatile.

This versatility, and the increased demand for the new model, in turn caused the launch of several special editions. In 2007, there were seven limited editions. All were made for specific retailers plus one for a boutique, with limited editions ranging from 15 to 50 pieces. Similarly, in 2008 there were another six limited editions introduced, one for Japan and the others for retailers. There was also a special limited edition of 12, from a watchmaker’s project that didn’t incorporate an IWC base movement.

All other Big Pilot’s watches used an IWC in-house movement and a few special editions used one with subsidiary seconds at 9 o’clock. Mostly, the differences in the limited editions involved dial color or details. The size, the iconic crown, and the characteristic dial design remained the same.