The TOP GUN Edition replica watches have been part of IWC Schaffhausen’s Pilot’s Replica Watch squadron since 2007. They take their name from a special training course offered by the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School, the “Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor”, better known by the legendary accolade Top Gun. With their black cockpit design, attractive materials mix and state-of-the-art replica watchmaking technology, the TOP GUN replica watches have made a name for themselves among aficionados of modern timepieces.
One of the hallmark features of the TOP GUN line is the no-frills dial design and stark contrast of black and white, also known as the cockpit design or instrument look. Its roots go back to the 1930s and 1940s, when pilots had to focus on an increasing number of instruments under the frequently dire lighting conditions in the cockpit. It was back then that light, high-contrast luminescent figures and propeller-like hands against matte black dials firmly established themselves. In 1936, IWC Schaffhausen adopted the instrument look for its first Special Pilot’s Replica Watch and thus helped it to make its breakthrough as the design of choice for classic pilot’s replica watches.
The second special feature was the use of high-tech ceramic for the case, and titanium for the controls and the back of the replica watch. IWC Schaffhausen was the first manufacturer worldwide to use these materials in replica watchmaking.
The zirconium oxide case is water-resistant to 6 bar, antimagnetic, acid-resistant, light and, like titanium, very skin friendly. Titanium is corrosion-proof and tougher than steel at only around half the weight.
In 2016, all three models in the TOP GUN line will undergo one modification. Instead of a soft strap, the replica watches now feature an embossed black calfskin strap. Optically speaking, the change is virtually unnoticeable, but leather is considerably more robust and harder wearing.
Apart from this, the Top Gun logo is now engraved on the reverse side of the case of the Big Pilot’s Replica Watch TOP GUN and the Pilot’s Replica Watch Chronograph TOP GUN. This is much more discreet than the previous coloured imprint.
Big Pilot’s Replica Watch TOP GUN (Ref. IW502001)
The case diameter of the Big Pilot’s Replica Watch TOP GUN (Ref. IW502001) has been reduced by two millimetres, which makes the 46-millimetre ceramic case more interesting for potential buyers with a slimmer wrist. For the dial, IWC’s designers decided to do away with the small, signal red silhouette of an aircraft as a counterpoise for the seconds hand in favour of a clean, uncluttered replica watch face. The triangular index with the white dot on either side is no longer part of the chapter ring. It now functions as an additional, eye-catching design element above the logo. The white Arabic numerals are designed to be slightly more conspicuous.
Even if the Big Pilot’s Replica Watch TOP GUN, with its reduced dial and large cone-shaped crown, bears the most obvious resemblance to the Big Pilot’s Replica Watch of 1940, its owner, of course, will not have to forgo contemporary convenience features such as the power reserve and date display.
The IWC-manufactured 51111 calibre, which comprises 311 components, is one of IWC’s largest automatic movements. With its patented pawl-winding system, it builds up more than a 7-day power reserve after just 1,960 revolutions of the rotor. But the power reserve mechanism is smart and allows it to run for only 168 hours before stopping the movement. This way it is certain that the replica watch will keep perfect time for 7 days when fully wound. On the front side of the case, the sapphire glass has antireflective coating on both sides and is secured against sudden drops in pressure in the cockpit.
Technical details
Model: Big Pilot’s Replica Watch Top Gun Ref. IW502001
Functions
Power reserve display
Date display
Central hacking seconds
Movement
IWC-manufactured calibre 51111 Mechanical movement
Pellaton automatic winding
Glucydur ® beryllium alloy balance
Breguet spring
Frequency: 21,600 A/h | 3 Hz
Jewels: 42
Power reserve: 7 days (168 h)
Winding: Automatic
Case, dial and strap
Ceramic case, black dial, black calfskin strap (embossed), stainless-steel folding clasp, blasted
Glass: Sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
Water-resistant: 6 bar
Diameter: 46 mm
Height: 15 mm
Soft-iron inner case for protection against magnetic fields
Screw-in crown
Glass secured against displacement by drops in air pressure
Special back engraving
Pilot’s Replica Watch Chronograph TOP GUN (Ref. IW389001)
In the Pilot’s Replica Watch Chronograph TOP GUN (Ref. IW389001), the ceramic case has been reduced in size from 46 to 44 millimetres. The designers have tidied up the dial and made it easier to read by replacing the triple date display with a single date indicator.
As you would expect of a chronograph, you can record times with the help of the titanium push-buttons – more conveniently than ever before. The new, IWC-manufactured 89361 calibre from the 89000-calibre family shows stopped minutes and hours on a subdial at “12 o’clock”, while the central hand takes care of the stopped seconds. Compared with earlier aggregate timing systems, the replica watch-within-a-watch makes everything much simpler.
The replica watch also has an integrated flyback function: when the reset button is pushed, the stopwatch hand returns to zero and instantaneously starts another recording sequence. The small red hacking seconds rotating at “6 o’clock” indicates that the replica watch is running normally. It can be stopped whenever necessary for synchronization. A soft-iron inner case protects the precision mechanism against the omnipresent threat of magnetism.
Technical details
Model: Pilot’s Replica Watch Chronograph Top Gun Ref. IW389001
Functions
Date display
Stopwatch function with hours, minutes and seconds
Hour and minute counters combined in a totalizer at “12 o’clock”
Flyback function
Small hacking seconds
Movement
IWC-manufactured calibre 89361 Mechanical chronograph movement
Frequency: 28,800 A/h | 4 Hz
Jewels: 38
Power reserve: 68 h
Winding: Automatic
Case, dial and strap
Ceramic case, black dial, black calfskin strap (embossed), stainless-steel folding clasp, blasted
Glass: Sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
Water-resistant: 6 bar
Diameter: 44 mm
Height: 15.5 mm
Soft-iron inner case for protection against magnetic fields
Screw-in Crown
Glass secured against displacement by drops in air pressure
Special back engraving
Big Pilot’s Replica Watch Perpetual Calendar TOP GUN (Ref. IW502902)
The Big Pilot’s Replica Watch Perpetual Calendar TOP GUN (Ref. IW502902) is now also fitted with an embossed calfskin strap. Otherwise, it remains unchanged from last year’s model. In its 48-millimetre ceramic case, the timepiece brings together much of the cutting-edge technology typically made in Schaffhausen.
For example, it includes the IWC-manufactured 51614-calibre movement with efficient Pellaton winding that builds up a 7-day power reserve. This powerful movement drives a plethora of replica watchmaking complications. The perpetual calendar with its four-digit year display until the year 2499, as well as displays for the date, day and month, takes into account all the leap years in the Gregorian calendar until 2100.
All the displays are easily adjusted via the crown and advance automatically. Two discreet aircraft silhouettes on the moon phase display at “12 o’clock” indicate the state of the moon as seen from the northern and southern hemispheres. In each lunar month, i.e. about 29.5 days, the replica watch’s imitation of the moon’s orbit deviates by a mere 12 seconds or so. The replica watch also comes with several other outstanding mechanical features, such as a Glucydur® beryllium alloy balance and a Breguet spring.
Technical details
Model: Big Pilot’s Replica Watch Perpetual Calendar Top Gun Ref. IW502902
Functions
Power reserve display
Perpetual calendar with displays for the date, day and month
Perpetual moon phase display
Double moon phases for the northern and southern hemispheres
Four-digit year display
Small hacking seconds
Movement
IWC-manufactured calibre 51614
Glucydur® beryllium alloy balance
Breguet spring
Mechanical movement
Pellaton automatic winding
Frequency: 21,600 A/h | 3 Hz
Jewels: 62
Power reserve: 7 days (168 h)
Winding: Automatic
Case, dial strap
Ceramic case, black dial, black calfskin strap (embossed), stainless-steel folding clasp, blasted
Glass: Sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
Water-resistant: 6 bar
Diameter: 48 mm
Height: 16 mm
Screw-in crown
Glass secured against displacement by drops in air pressure