It?s arguably the most totemic watch of a brand canon chock-full of classics but ? believe it or not ? the modern incarnation of  IWC?s oversize aviator has only been around since 2002

By Alex Doak

Even though it is based on a military design from the late 1930s ? the now-legendary ?B-Uhr? observation watch that IWC (along with A. Lange & Söhne, Wempe, Laco and Stowa, in much greater numbers) supplied to the German air force and navy during World War 2 ? the Big Pilot?s Watch is very much a modern classic in its own right.
For one thing, there was no commercially available version of those wartime watches produced at any point until the brand decided to use the vintage aesthetic as inspiration in 2002 (almost ten years after it had revived the Mk series).
It launched in blue, strangely enough, complete with massive, near-conical onion crown, period-appropriate hands and triangle at 12 o?clock. Not only did it debut IWC?s 7-day automatic movement with power reserve but it clocked up a hefty 46mm diameter.
That did as much as any watch to ramp up the Noughties appetite for oversized watches, and even though fashions are now moving in the other direction, the Big Pilot?s exemplifies everything that is good about big watches. It?s sporty yet serious, pretty understated ? verging on sombre ? in its design and despite its size can genuinely be worn with a suit. Alongside Panerai, it continues to fly the flag for big watches that it?s ok to lust after.
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