New Release
India Whiskey Charlie introduces the IWC Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 Black Aces, a timepiece that pushes the boundaries of legibility with its innovative fully luminous white dial. This article delves into the technical advancements and design inspirations behind IWC's latest collaboration with U.S. Navy squadrons, offering collectors a detailed look at its unique features and historical context. India Whiskey Charlie's original post provides an excellent foundation for understanding why this reference matters to both aviation enthusiasts and horology aficionados.
Schaffhausen, 28th August 2023: IWC Schaffhausen introduces the Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 Black Aces, the latest timepiece inspired by its collaborations with U.S. Navy squadrons. The highlight of this timepiece is the fully luminous white dial. Consisting of a solid disc of Super-LumiNova®, it emits a bright greenish light in the dark and takes night visibility to the next level. The Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 Black Aces features a black zirconium oxide ceramic case and is powered by the IWC-manufactured 32100 caliber movement with a power reserve of 72 hours. It is available exclusively online at iwc.com om.
For over 85 years,
IWC has acquired comprehensive expertise in the development of
functional instruments for cockpits. This know-how is nurtured and kept
up to date by an ongoing dialogue with professional pilots, enabling
IWC’s engineers to precisely understand their specific requirements and
needs. Within its Professional Pilot’s Watches Program, which emerged
from its partnership with the U.S. Navy, IWC develops highly specialized
watches for the most discerning fast jet pilots. The Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 Black Aces
(Ref. IW326905) takes inspiration from a pilot’s watch that IWC
engineered for members of Strike Fighter Squadron 41 (VFA-41), also
known as the “Black Aces”. The squadron is based at Naval Air Station
Lemoore in California. Originally formed in 1950 at NAS Oceana, VFA-41
is attached to Carrier Air Wing 9 and uses the radio callsign “Fast
Eagle”.
A DIAL CAPABLE OF STORING LIGHT ENERGY
The most striking feature of this timepiece is the fully luminous white Lumicast dial. Developed in collaboration with pilots from the “Black Aces”, the dial is the result of a complex manufacturing process. In the first step, high-grade Super-LumiNova® pigments are mixed with a binder, cast into a circular mold, and hardened in a specially developed curing process to give the material a ceramic-like durability. The resulting solid disc is then fixed onto the soft-iron dial blank. Finally, the dial is imprinted with black indices and numerals and the “Black Aces” patch, resembling the ace of spades from a card deck. In dark chamber tests, the dial emitted a bright greenish light for more than 23 hours, taking legibility and night visibility to a whole new level.
HARD AND SCRATCH-RESISTANT CERAMIC CASE
The
case of the Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 Black Aces is made of black
zirconium oxide ceramic, a material IWC pioneered in the watch industry
as early as the 1980s. With a Vickers rating second only to that of
diamonds, ceramic ranks among the hardest substances on Earth. Its
lightness, hardness and scratch resistance make it the perfect case
material for everyday use in the restricted space of a jet cockpit.
Moreover, its stealthy matte-black color ensures pilots are not
distracted by sunlight reflected from their watch. The case back is made
of lightweight titanium and features an engraving of the “Black Aces”
twin-engine jet against a backdrop of spades. The Pilot’s Watch
Automatic 41 Black Aces is powered by the IWC-manufactured 32100
caliber. Combined with the soft-iron inner case, the movement’s
anti-magnetic silicon escapement further improves the watch’s resistance
to magnetic fields. The efficient double pawl winding system builds up a
power reserve of 72 hours in the mainspring. The watch is fitted with a
black textile strap with a pin buckle in sand-blasted stainless steel.
The Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 Black Aces is available exclusively online at IWC.com . In addition, the timepiece is eligible for registration under the My IWC care program and can benefit from a 6-year extension to the standard 2-year International Limited Warranty.
be sure to cover your watch. I read a story some time ago that a burglary suspect's glowing watch dial led the police right to him.
On one hand, there are already many variants of pilot watches from IWC… and other brands have jumped ahead in introducing such fully-lumed dial. Ultimately this is still a pilot watch from IWC and there will be fans
Photo from 2003 Photo from 2007 Photo from 2011 Cazalea
And I'm very certain that IWC will be listening to my suggestions.
But on an IWC, it cheapens what is left of the brand. IWC should stand for innovation, but this is far from it.
… which reminds me that famous scene from Apocalypse Now with the card game. It will complement well my Mojave BP and my BP QP with British green racing dial. I have ordered one 😊 Kind regards, Kim
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