Style Through the Generations: IWC’s Ageless Big Pilot Takes Flight

Every great story has a beginning, but not all of them are destined to end. Some are simply reborn, unravelled by time and reworked for a new generation. The words may be different, those who tell them – a little older, but the sentiment remains timeless. For Swiss luxury watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen, the story is still being written.

The Prologue

You don’t always set to out to create a legacy, but somewhere along the way, the vision becomes clear. In the case of the Big Pilot, the story dates back to 1940 and the introduction of 1,000 oversized “B-Uhr” watches. Bulky instruments of military precision, the original Pilot’s release laid the foundations for what would become a staple in the horological world. Subsequent evolutions and innovations blazed a trail to 2002 and the Big Pilot’s Watch (Ref. IW5002) was born. Taking design inspiration from cockpit instruments and measuring 46.2mm in diameter, the innovative blend of old and new instantly became one of IWC’s most-heralded lines.

Characterised by minimalist underpinnings and functional essence, the collection’s timeless design language and robust performance specs make it a force to be reckoned with. Even with a modified case size of 43mm, these pieces turn heads from across the room, courtesy of the oversized crowns, legible numerals, and monochromatic dials.

Since 2002’s fateful revival, the IWC favourite has set its sights on revamping the range. From the 2006 Big Pilot’s Watch (Ref. IW500401) that introduced a faster beat movement to the incredible Perpetual Calendar Big Pilot’s Watch (Ref. IW502605) that reimagined the original flight watch, IWC has proven, time after time, that true style is ageless.

Rewriting the Script

With a legacy that spans generations, the Big Pilot’s Watch holds the esteemed virtue of versatility and you need only take a glance to understand why. Ideal for the sophisticated father, while still modern enough to feel innately fresh, the timepiece looks just as at home on the wrist of someone in their 20s as it does on someone in their 50s and beyond. When combined with a curated wardrobe, it becomes a living celebration of enduring and adaptive style.

The best part? Because IWC’s Big Pilot’s Watch traverses so many generations, the watch never loses its desirability, allowing each wearer to relish its unique ability to pair with different ensembles. There is genuine power to reap from the range’s expert use of minimalist design, which eschews gimmickry in favour of bold simplicity and premium performance.

Truly, the Big Pilot’s Watch isn’t about trends or fashion fads, it’s a testament to those who favour style that stands the test of time. In fact, it’s by straddling multiple worlds that the line remains timeless in the truest sense of the word. One can still trace certain details and hallmarks back to those groundbreaking 1940s predecessors. But with the use of eye-popping dial colours, modified case sizes, new movements, and updated materials there comes a newfound sense of generation-spanning allure.

The Next Chapter

Eighty years on from its humble beginnings, IWC’s Big Pilot’s Watch is turning over a new leaf. With a host of new iterations bearing the iconic moniker for 2022, the watchmaker has nailed versatile style and we’ve got the pics to prove it. Arriving just in time for Father’s Day, the generation-spanning stunner has been celebrated in style. In a fitting nod to the Big Pilot’s Watch’s versatility, four of the releases have made their presence felt, arriving on the wrists of four starkly different canvases. From the 50-year-old father of two to the 20-year-old fresh-faced watch fan, the timepieces, all of which are available through luxury retailer Watches of Switzerland, shine through.