Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar Top Gun

In Context

At 48 mm this is exceptionally large for something worn on a wrist, closer to a pocket watch given lugs. 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.

IW5029-02 Calf is one of 4 executions of the IW5029 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a ceramic case. Beyond the time it carries a perpetual calendar.

The 51000-family Pellaton automatic carrying Kurt Klaus's perpetual calendar, made in limited numbers for the Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar from 2006. The calendar advances mechanically and is set through the crown alone, with a four-digit year shown at 7:30 beside the moon phase. Two barrels supply the seven-day reserve. IWC later replaced it in the model with the ceramic-pawled 52000-family calibres.

15 other watches in the library run the IWC 51564.

IWC

Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar Stainless Steel / Black / Orsini

IW502619 · 46.2 mm

IWC

Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar Le Petit Prince Platinum

IW5028-01 · 46 mm

IWC

Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar Red Gold / Brown / Latin America

IW5028-04 · 46 mm

IWC

Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar Stainless Steel / Black / Zegg & Cerlati

IW502621 · 46.2 mm