IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 TOP GUN Mojave Desert

With the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 TOP GUN Mojave Desert (Ref. IW389402), IWC adds its third 41-millimeter ceramic chronograph to the portfolio. The case is made of sand-colored ceramic. Known as Mojave Desert, this earth tone with notes of beige and khaki is inspired by the flight suits of naval aviators and the desert landscape around China Lake, home to the U.S. Navy’s famous TOPGUN flight school. The dark brown dial and the hands, the printing and luminescent material, and the rubber strap with a textile inlay harmonize perfectly with the case. The crown, the chronograph pushers, and the case back are made of matte grey titanium.

Ticking away inside the case is the IWC-manufactured 69380 caliber. This highly robust chronograph movement in a classic column-wheel design comprises 242 individual parts. The IWC-typical vertical dial layout places the stopped minutes directly at the 12 o’clock position, significantly enhancing readability. An efficient double pawl winding system uses movements of the rotor in both directions to build up a power reserve of 46 hours in the mainspring. The movement is protected from the effects of magnetic fields by a soft iron inner case, and the front glass is specially secured to withstand sudden drops in air pressure.