TOP OF THE TOP
The new robust and resistant material developed by the Schaffhausen factory is used on a watch designed to fly over clouds and cross time zones without suffering from jet lag.
The name Top Gun embodies the elite pilots of the US Navy, a prestigious designation that has been adopted by IWC for a collection of timepieces capable of withstanding extreme pressure. The recently unveiled Pilot’s Watch Timezoner® Top Gun Ceratanium® embodies the strength of innovation and creativity that the Schaffhausen watchmaker has to offer.
Firstly, its 46mm diameter and 15mm thick case is machined in Ceratanium®, a new material which, resulting from the marriage of titanium and ceramic, is ultra-light, robust, resistant and virtually scratchproof. High temperature agglomeration produces a beautiful matte black color. Secondly, its ceramic rotating bezel is used to set a useful complication that is appearing for the first time on a Top Gun reference: the Timezoner®. By simply pressing and then turning the ring bearing the inscription of various cities of the world, the hour hand in the center moves forward in 60-minute increments, simultaneously with the 24-hour display at 12 o’clock and the date at 3 o’clock, thus setting the second time zone.
On the dark dial, overhung by a trio of hands, the Arabic numerals are dressed in gray and three of them, at the cardinal points, are covered with luminescent material. The indication of hours, minutes and seconds, among other features, is driven by the caliber 82760, a self-winding movement clocked at 4hz and delivering 60 hours of power reserve.
Price: CHF18,000
By Sharmila Bertin