Weekly Watch Photo – IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Miramar

The subject of this week’s Weekly Watch Photo has a very long name, IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Miramar. It was released in January of this year at the SIHH 2012, as part of an entirely revamped Pilot’s collection and it is among the first of this collection to feature IWC’s in-house caliber 89365. 

Like last week’s Weekly Watch Photo, the Roger Dubuis Pulsion Skeleton Tourbillon, I had the distinct pleasure of wearing the IWC Pilot Chrono Miramar for several weeks, again with the purpose of writing a review. The review will be online in the following weeks, however I’d love to share some photos of this stunning watch and let’s start with the engraved case back.

Top Gun… these two words reminds me of the hit-movie featuring Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis, rather then it reminds me of the US Navy School where future fighter jet pilots are trained. There’s actually another military reference that came to mind…

The first week I wore the IWC Pilot Chrono Miramar was during a brief vacation and it was a perfect match with my casual clothing. Its grey/green dial with military style markers, look like it was ripped out of a helicopter dashboard that featured in Tour of Duty. And the black/anthracite ceramic case reminds of the opening tune of the series, Paint it Black.

So far for the references of movies or TV series. All together the Pilot Chrono Miramar was a very convincing watch on the wrist, although its very distinct design prohibits wearing it with suit and tie or combining it with casual-chic. It matches perfectly with real casual occasions  and cloths. Luckily the ceramic case can take a punch, as the incredibly hard material doesn’t get scratched. The 46 mm large case wears much smaller, which also might be the result from the black ceramic that visually appears smaller then a similar size case in stainless steel.

Inside the metallic tones of the ceramic case ticks the new in-house caliber 89365, delivering 68 hours of power reserve. Besides a central hour and minute hand, the running seconds hand is positioned off-center above the 6 o’clock position. Between the 12 o’clock position and the dial’s center is the 30-minute counter of the chronograph. No normal chronograph, but one that perfectly suits this pilot’s watch because it features a flyback function. The movement is placed inside a soft-iron inner case, to protect it against magnetic fields. Another real-life aviation feature.

Soon I’ll write (and publish) an extensive review of the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Miramar, so stay tuned!

More info can be found on the IWC website and the official IWC Facebook page.

This article is written by Frank Geelen, executive editor for Monochrome Watches.