IWC launched a new Spitfire squadron in its collection of pilots? watches at that debuted in 2019. A self-winding movement from the new 32000 family of manufacture calibers debuts inside the case of the Pilot’s Watch Automatic Spitfire. We tested one of the first available in this feature from our December 2019 issue, with original photos by Olaf Köster.
In typical IWC style, the self-winding movement ticks behind a double back that offers increased protection against magnetic fields.
The matte stainless-steel case with its narrow, steep bezel and massive screw-in back has a moderate diameter of 39 mm and is therefore one mm smaller than the case of the Mark XVIII. The height is 10.86 mm, which gives it a sporty look and is also an appropriate thickness for a classic pilots? watch. Manufacture Caliber 32110 contributes to the case?s height: the movement is 4.2 mm thick. Its diameter is 28.2 mm. Furthermore, Caliber 32110 is equipped with increased protection against magnetic fields thanks to a soft iron inner case and an additional inner back, a detail that was already included in the Mark 11. The Elegant Spitfire Became a Typical Pilots? Watch

The striking pilots? watch dial is also adapted from this watch ? and almost even more so from the Mark XV. It ?speaks? with the design vocabulary of a classic pilots? watch: pure instrument design, strong black-and-white contrasts, a tidy minutes scale, easy-to-read hour numerals, large lanceolate hands and a triangle instea...