Big Pilot Stainless Steel / Black

In Context

At 46.2 mm it is a large watch — well above this catalogue’s 40 mm median, and enough to dominate a narrow wrist. At 15.8 mm it is a tall case, and it will catch on a cuff. The case back is closed, so the movement stays out of sight, and the sapphire crystal will resist everything short of deliberate abuse. 60 m covers rain and hand-washing comfortably; it is not a watch to swim in.

The movement winds itself from the motion of your wrist. 168 hours of reserve puts it well past a weekend — several days off the wrist and it is still going. At 21,600 vph the seconds hand advances 6 times a second, the slower and more audible rate of an older design.

IW5004-01 is one of 31 executions of the IW5004 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a black dial and a stainless steel case.

IWC

Grey · White Gold

IW5004-02 · 46.2 mm

IWC

Silver · Red Gold

IW5004-06 · 46.2 mm

IWC

Green · Stainless Steel

IW5004-07 · 46.2 mm

IWC

Black · Red Gold

IW5004-08 · 46.2 mm

IWC

Black · Rose Gold

IW5004-09 · 46.2 mm

IWC

Black · Titanium

IW5004-10 · 46.2 mm

IWC

Black · Titanium

IW5004-11 · 46.2 mm

IWC

Black · Stainless Steel

IW5004-12 · 46.2 mm

+ 22 more variants in this family.

One step in the seven-day Pellaton line that runs 5011, 50110, 51110 and then 51111; the 51110 held the Big Pilot between roughly 2005 and 2006. The whole week of running comes out of a single oversized barrel. The 51111 that followed added stronger shock protection and swapped the balance cock for a bridge anchored at both ends.

2 other watches in the library run the IWC 51110.

IWC

Big Pilot White Gold / Ardoise

IW5004-02 · 46.2 mm

IWC

Big Pilot White Gold / Silver / 2011

IW5004-30 · 46.2 mm