As the range of watch brands available for trading on VIVER expands, IWC watches are now available for sale and purchase. We introduce IWC’s Big Pilot and Mark series, Which represent pilot watches.

IWC, The Benchmark of Pilot Watches

The synonym for pilot watches, IWC Schaffhausen. Since the early days of the aviation industry, IWC has been a watchmaker that has steadily accumulated a unique heritage and expertise by producing watches dedicated to aviation observation. Let us explore over 85 years of history and heritage in practicality.

Big Pilot and Mark XX ⓒ IWC

The Big Pilot and Mark series each have their own deep military backgrounds. In the early 20th century, As the aviation industry developed, Pilots needed watches that would always function in rapidly changing environmental conditions. Tools that could easily adapt to rapidly changing temperatures, Vibrations, And brightness in the sky became the predecessors of what we now call pilot watches.

The Mark Series

In 1936, IWC began the legend of the pilot watch by producing the “Special Pilot’s Watch.” From this point, The black dial and Arabic numeral arrangement to maximize legibility became the DNA of pilot watches, And in 1943, The improved model ‘Mark X’ was supplied to the British military, Officially giving birth to the ‘Mark’ series.

Special Pilot’s Watch Mark X / ⓒ Watchclub

After the war, IWC responded to the call of the Royal Air Force (RAF) and produced the ‘Mark XI.’ The RAF’s main requirement was a watch that would function smoothly even in the strong magnetic fields of fighter cockpit radars. The Mark XI featured an internal cage made of soft iron, Providing excellent anti-magnetic properties, And IWC, Having proven its technical prowess, Supplied the Mark XI to the military from 1948 to 1981. Having earned the official honor of being a pilot watch, The Mark XI has since evolved into the Mark XX, Continuing the legacy of pilot watches.

Mark XI, Mark XII, Mark XX ⓒ IWC

Big Pilot

While supplying watches to the British military, IWC also took the unique step of providing watches to the German Air Force (Luftwaffe). The German military sought manufacturers to produce aviation observation watches for their navigators, And IWC was one of the four selected brands. The German manufacturers were Lange, Laco, And Stowa, And IWC, The only Swiss manufacturer, Produced special watches in compliance with strict guidelines alongside them.

Mark XI and B-Uhr © Watchesbysjx

The German military called this watch the Beobachtungsuhr (B-Uhr), And from the production stage, They requested that all unnecessary text be removed for optimal visibility and legibility. This custom-made B-Uhr became the foundation for all IWC pilot watches.

The B-Uhr was far from commercial use. Its 55mm size, Unsuitable for civilian use, And the long strap designed to be worn over a flight jacket clearly indicated that it was a military tool for missions. The IWC B-Uhr, Boasting a size large enough to house a pocket watch movement, Earned the nickname “Big Pilot’s Watch (Grosse Fliegeruhr).”

Big Pilot Ref. 431 from 1940 © Revolution

However, Perhaps due to its association with the German military, The original Big Pilot reference 431 soon disappeared from the scene.

The new IWC Big Pilot's Watch 43 © Revolution

After as long as 60 years, In 2002, IWC improved the Big Pilot lineup for civilian use with a 46mm size, Creating a huge impact in the watch market. Leveraging its status as the original pilot watch manufacturer, IWC made the Big Pilot an icon of pilot watches in just 20 years, And in response to strong demand from watch enthusiasts, Released a 43mm version.

The Evolution of an Icon, Big Pilot 43

In 2021, IWC introduced a new series, The Big Pilot 43, To its iconic Big Pilot collection. Both general consumers and enthusiasts praised IWC’s decision to reduce the size from the original 46.2mm to a more wearable size.

Big Pilot 43 © IWC

Thanks to this, Although it has only been two years since its release, The Big Pilot 43 has already established itself as a popular model in both the domestic retail and resale markets.

Big Pilot's Watch 43 IW329301

43mm, Black

Big Pilot's Watch 43 IW329306

43mm, Green

If 43mm is too large, The Mark Series

Many consumers who fall in love with the simple and straightforward dial design of the Big Pilot may give up wearing it due to its size. While the appeal of a pilot watch is often in its large size, The satisfaction of a perfect fit is even greater. The current Mark XX lineup, Released in 2022, Offers a 40mm size suitable for users sensitive to size.

Mark XX © IWC

Although it is 3mm smaller than the Big Pilot 43, The Mark XX boasts a superior power reserve. The Big Pilot 43 is equipped with a sufficient 60-hour power reserve, But the Mark XX boasts a significantly improved 120-hour power reserve. Furthermore, Although the Mark XX is a newer model, It is about 4 million KRW cheaper at retail than the Big Pilot 43, Making it especially popular among beginners starting their luxury watch journey.

Pilots's Watch Mark XX IW328204

40mm, Blue

Pilots's Watch Mark XX IW328201

40mm, Black

The World’s Most Famous Pilot Watch, Now on VIVER

IWC’s pilot watches, Which honor a heritage specialized in aviation navigation, Have maintained a consistent design for decades. When you think of a diver’s watch, You imagine dot hour markers and a rotating bezel, And for a dress watch, Roman numeral indexes come to mind. Likewise, Pilot watches have unmistakable features that declare them as ‘pilot watches.’ Arabic numeral arrangement, A triangle and dot at 12 o’clock, And a simple monochrome dial. It is no exaggeration to say that IWC is the brand that established this pilot watch identity.

Big Pilot 43, Portugieser, Portofino, Ingenieur © VIVER

VIVER handles trading not only for the Big Pilot 43 but also for the Portugieser and Portofino collections. Even the Ingenieur, The revived Genta design that recently stirred up the watch market, Is available for trading. If the watch you wish to sell is not in the VIVER catalog, You can apply to [Register Product Directly] with your watch, And you can also request model registration. VIVER buyers can add their IWC dream watch to their wishlist. Please look forward to the ever-expanding range of pilot watches.

Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41 IW388104

41mm, Green

Ingenieur Automatic 40 IW328902

41mm, Silver

Portugieser Chronograph IW371605

41mm, Silver, Chronograph