Air, Land, and Sea: Breitling vs. IWC
This article was originally published in the May/June 2022 Issue of the WatchTime print magazine.
IWC and Breitling have different ideas about how a pilots? watch should be designed. Both brands rely heavily on their own in-house traditions. At IWC, the Big Pilot?s Watch from 1940 stands front and center ? IWC and other manufacturers supplied this model to the German Air Force.
The features of a pilots? watch typically include a military triangle and double dots at 12 o?clock, sans serif numerals (where the ?1? looks like a simple hash mark), diamond-shaped hands and a large conical crown. These attributes can be found on today?s version of the Big Pilot?s Watch. IWC has made only minimal modifications to the model over the years. The year 2021 saw the introduction of the Big Pilot?s Watch 43 ? a 43-mm version without a date or powerreserve indication that more closely reflects the original design. It is powered by the automatic in-house Caliber 82100 with a 60-hour power reserve. On a distinctive riveted leather strap, this model (Ref. IW329301) costs $8,400.
Breitling can also reflect on its own extensive pilots? watch tradition. The icon here is the Navitimer, which looks the same today as it did when it got its light subdials a few years after its introduction in 1952. The chronograph has the characteristic slide-rule track on a rotating bezel for calculating flight parameters. There is a choice of straps between a black leather strap with contrasting ...
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