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Der IWC Big Pilot's Watch (With loads of Pics)
© Decksurgeon May 2009
Present day: IWC Top Gun Doppel Chronograph in the Cockpit of an Audi R8
Albert Santos Dumont, Good friend of Louis Cartier - The Cartier Santos was the first "pilot's watch" actually
This original 1936 watch also featured antimagnetic protection and this was a must give that aviation was increasingly exploiting new inventions in on transmitting devices, radios and radar.
At the beginning of WWII the German Luftwaffe / Reich's Aeronautics Ministry (RLM) collaborated with the German Naval Observatory and invited various watch companies to submit watches for testing. IWC (and other watch companies) were to develop and produce a very precise watch specially just for pilot's use. It was designed as a navigation watch or observation watch. The Germans demanded absolute precision and each individual piece was tested at the German Gesundbrunnen Marine Observatory in Glashutte before being released into service.
The institute assigned one of three classes: (1) Special Class (2) First Class (2) Second Class.
The IWC was assigned to "B" Watch (i.e navigation watch) First class. These standards also stipulated that the best materials and engineering components were to be used. They had to be equipped with high quality balances and have a specially treated balance spring with "breguet" curve. The was regulated in six positions at three different temperatures - YES! Three different temperatures.
I do not know of any manufacturer today that even attempts regulation at 3 differing temperatures!
Documents from that era also confirm that the watches had to be reliable at -20 degrees C.
It was designed to be worn over the thick flying suit on the arm or even on the thigh - hence the over-long leather strap riveted to the strap attachments. The watch was not kept by the pilot but issued at the start of a mission and most certainly used as a navigational aid for night and long-range reconnaissance on long-distance flights. It may also have been used by bomber pilots also. However, it appears less likely that it could have been intended for fighter pilots or Stuka pilots.
The Legendary IWC Ref 431, Big Pilot's Watch for German Air Force.
Shown here is an example from 1940
The IWC Cal 52 as seen in a Pocket Watch (Without Center Seconds)
The IWC Cal 52T SC which powered the IWC Ref 431 Big Pilot's Watch for German Air Force
IWC Ref 431 from 1940 - The Original Big Pilot's Watch
The "Conical" crown on the IWC Ref 431 that we associate so much with pilot's watches today.
The oversized crown allowed the wearer to operate the watch with gloves on.
Shown below is a similar German Air Force FL 23883 watch
This time supplied by a maker in the Glashutte Region of Germany.
Note that the same numbers "FL.23883" are stamped on the side of the case.
IWC Ref 500421 - Big Pilot's Watch Edition Antoine de St Exupery in Rose Gold (4N)
IWC Ref 500420 - Big Pilot's Watch Edition Antoine de St Exupery in White Gold
IWC Ref 500422 - Big Pilot's Watch Edition Antoine de St Exupery in Stainless Steel
IWC Ref 500413 in Platinum, This is the "Father" part of a 2 watch set known as "Father & Son"
IWC Ref 500402 in White Gold
IWC Ref 500401 in Stainless Steel
The IWC Big Pilot Family
Der Grosse Fliegeruhr
It be near impossible to cover the sheer breadth and depth of the history of the pilot's watches from the very start to present day. But here are some interesting in an abridged presentation facts and some pictures of perhaps the most famous pilot's watch of them all.
The first airplanes had some form of cockpit watch. This was not a wristwatch but a modified pocket watch mounted on the instrument panel.
In a normal pocket watch the winding crown would be at the 12 o'clock position.
Just imagine this adapted pocket watch turned upsidedown and with the crown at 6o'clock. The makers then obviously had to rotate the dial thru 180 degrees correspondingly to have the numeric dial markers upright - this was one of the first so called "pilot's watches" in an aircraft.
From man's aviation infancy till present day. We have seen the pilot's watch evolve from an upside down mounted pocket watch to the fine antimagnetic products that ooze aesthetics combined with form and function that they are today.
There is no one single universal agreement on what constitutes to be a pilot's watch but the fundamental hallmarks desired are usually:
- Excellent legibility
- Clear and uncluttered styling
- Precise timing
- Excellent durability
- Anti-magetic
- Be able to cope with sudden loss of aircraft pressure
- Effortless operation by the pilot using gloved hands
It is easy to see then why a pocket watch was not the best solution for flying.
Today you probably wear your pilot's watch proudly at a board meeting or cruising in your German handmade sports car. However things were a little different a long time ago..........Altitude and speed created freezing cold temperature, and open cockpit exposed the pilot and watch to very fast winds and all sorts of weather. Pocket watches were not exactly the most practical thing to be hanging from a chain requiring intermittent extraction from a flying jacket requiring using gloved hands.
It be near impossible to cover the sheer breadth and depth of the history of the pilot's watches from the very start to present day. But here are some interesting in an abridged presentation facts and some pictures of perhaps the most famous pilot's watch of them all.
The first airplanes had some form of cockpit watch. This was not a wristwatch but a modified pocket watch mounted on the instrument panel.
In a normal pocket watch the winding crown would be at the 12 o'clock position.
Just imagine this adapted pocket watch turned upsidedown and with the crown at 6o'clock. The makers then obviously had to rotate the dial thru 180 degrees correspondingly to have the numeric dial markers upright - this was one of the first so called "pilot's watches" in an aircraft.
From man's aviation infancy till present day. We have seen the pilot's watch evolve from an upside down mounted pocket watch to the fine antimagnetic products that ooze aesthetics combined with form and function that they are today.
There is no one single universal agreement on what constitutes to be a pilot's watch but the fundamental hallmarks desired are usually:
- Excellent legibility
- Clear and uncluttered styling
- Precise timing
- Excellent durability
- Anti-magetic
- Be able to cope with sudden loss of aircraft pressure
- Effortless operation by the pilot using gloved hands
It is easy to see then why a pocket watch was not the best solution for flying.
Today you probably wear your pilot's watch proudly at a board meeting or cruising in your German handmade sports car. However things were a little different a long time ago..........Altitude and speed created freezing cold temperature, and open cockpit exposed the pilot and watch to very fast winds and all sorts of weather. Pocket watches were not exactly the most practical thing to be hanging from a chain requiring intermittent extraction from a flying jacket requiring using gloved hands.
Present day: IWC Top Gun Doppel Chronograph in the Cockpit of an Audi R8
So Who commissioned the the first wristwatch for use in flight?
History often points the answer at one single individual named Albert-Santos-Dumont (the Cartier Santos is Named after him). He was an outstanding Brazilian born adventurer and aviator that was the first to commission a wristwatch designed for flying. His good friend Louis Cartier was more than happy to oblige by attaching a leather strap and buckles to a Cartier watch. Obviously the Cartier Santos we know today which was transpired from this original and does not look remotely like a pilot's watch. Credit must be given tho to Albert for his pioneering idea.
History often points the answer at one single individual named Albert-Santos-Dumont (the Cartier Santos is Named after him). He was an outstanding Brazilian born adventurer and aviator that was the first to commission a wristwatch designed for flying. His good friend Louis Cartier was more than happy to oblige by attaching a leather strap and buckles to a Cartier watch. Obviously the Cartier Santos we know today which was transpired from this original and does not look remotely like a pilot's watch. Credit must be given tho to Albert for his pioneering idea.
Albert Santos Dumont, Good friend of Louis Cartier - The Cartier Santos was the first "pilot's watch" actually
The wristwatch was a watch and indispensable instrument
for flying for a multitude of practical reasons. The pilot's could
check flight times, remaining fuel (via calculation), location (via
calculation) et cetera. Time was inextricably intertwined with flight.
This became extremely important during bombing missions of the WWII.
Precision timing was then absolute necessity and specialized watches
started to emerge.
Modern day pilot's watches are fundamentally shaped by one company - IWC (International Watch Company) based in Schaffausen , Switzerland.
IWC is not a newcomer or new kid on the block with a range of pilot's watches just because it's the 'in thing' to be selling today. IWC have in fact been involved in pilot's watches since 1930s. The very first IWC pilot's watch began life in 1936 and was dubbed "Special Watch for Pilot's". It basically combined all the features that were deemed necessary for its specific nature of function. It had high legibility and a rotating bezel that could be operated with a gloved hand.
IWC Ref 436 "Special Watch for Pilots", Shown is one from 1939. This was watch first produced in 1936.Modern day pilot's watches are fundamentally shaped by one company - IWC (International Watch Company) based in Schaffausen , Switzerland.
IWC is not a newcomer or new kid on the block with a range of pilot's watches just because it's the 'in thing' to be selling today. IWC have in fact been involved in pilot's watches since 1930s. The very first IWC pilot's watch began life in 1936 and was dubbed "Special Watch for Pilot's". It basically combined all the features that were deemed necessary for its specific nature of function. It had high legibility and a rotating bezel that could be operated with a gloved hand.
This original 1936 watch also featured antimagnetic protection and this was a must give that aviation was increasingly exploiting new inventions in on transmitting devices, radios and radar.
At the beginning of WWII the German Luftwaffe / Reich's Aeronautics Ministry (RLM) collaborated with the German Naval Observatory and invited various watch companies to submit watches for testing. IWC (and other watch companies) were to develop and produce a very precise watch specially just for pilot's use. It was designed as a navigation watch or observation watch. The Germans demanded absolute precision and each individual piece was tested at the German Gesundbrunnen Marine Observatory in Glashutte before being released into service.
The institute assigned one of three classes: (1) Special Class (2) First Class (2) Second Class.
The IWC was assigned to "B" Watch (i.e navigation watch) First class. These standards also stipulated that the best materials and engineering components were to be used. They had to be equipped with high quality balances and have a specially treated balance spring with "breguet" curve. The was regulated in six positions at three different temperatures - YES! Three different temperatures.
I do not know of any manufacturer today that even attempts regulation at 3 differing temperatures!
Documents from that era also confirm that the watches had to be reliable at -20 degrees C.
It was designed to be worn over the thick flying suit on the arm or even on the thigh - hence the over-long leather strap riveted to the strap attachments. The watch was not kept by the pilot but issued at the start of a mission and most certainly used as a navigational aid for night and long-range reconnaissance on long-distance flights. It may also have been used by bomber pilots also. However, it appears less likely that it could have been intended for fighter pilots or Stuka pilots.
The watch also had to
have a "Hacking" mechanism (i.e. Second hand would stop when the crown
was pulled) We take this for granted now, but back in the day the
invention of stop-second itself was considered a complication on a
watch. With the "hacking" feature the pilot could then synchronize his
watch exactly with his counterparts or a known timing signal. Typically
before a flight the watch would be synchronized with a Chronometer on
the ground in the flight preparation room.
The Legendary IWC Ref 431, Big Pilot's Watch for German Air Force.
Shown here is an example from 1940
IWC choose the Cal 52 for
the base and this was outfitted with some unique modifications. The
exact designation of the Caliber used in the IWC "B-uhr" was "52T 19 H6
S.C". The 'T' stood for tirette which means hand setting by pulling on
the crown. 19 is the movement diameter at 19 lignes (or 42.25mm) and H6
is the height of the movement at 6mm. The 'S.C.' meant that this
movement had 'Seconde Centrale' and the gear mechanism for indirect
propulsion of the central second hand by the elongated 3rd wheel pivot
was added to the normal Cal 52.
The IWC Cal 52 as seen in a Pocket Watch (Without Center Seconds)
The IWC Cal 52T SC which powered the IWC Ref 431 Big Pilot's Watch for German Air Force
For the IWC enthusiast
and collector you may wish to know that the IWC factory ledger list the
diameter as not as 19 lignes but 19/22. The '22 lignes' appears because
the movement was outfitted with a movement ring that increased the
diameter to 22 lignes for fitment into the large case.
Mechanically this movement was top class Schauffhausen workmanship. 16 jewels, Swan neck fine adjustment, slit metallic balance with weight screws and fine adjustment screws. The balance spring was of the breguet overcoil variety terminal curve. The steel lever of the Swiss lever escapement was polished glossy but the escapement wheel was matte finish. The plates, bridges and movement ring was gold plated. The visible wheels were all embellished with a sunburst finish.
An exact total of 1200 such movements were manufactured and bore the serial numbers 1013801 to 1015000.
1000 of these were delivered to the German Luftwaffe using a recipient named "Siegfried Heindorf" in Berlin as watches. The first batch consisted of watches were equipped with a cylindrical crown and the later batch had the conical crowns that we associate so strongly with today as a design cue.
The remaining 200 Cal 52 S.C. movements were delivered and used as deck watches by the British Royal Navy.
The German B-uhr watch was a steel case with diameter 55mm (today's modern IWC big pilot is 46mm so at 55mm is the original grand daddy of big pilots is living large!). Horn to horn the watch as 67mm and its case height was 17.5mm. The dials werre 0.9mm thick and had a diameter of 49mm. The glow in the dark coating used was radium.
Mechanically this movement was top class Schauffhausen workmanship. 16 jewels, Swan neck fine adjustment, slit metallic balance with weight screws and fine adjustment screws. The balance spring was of the breguet overcoil variety terminal curve. The steel lever of the Swiss lever escapement was polished glossy but the escapement wheel was matte finish. The plates, bridges and movement ring was gold plated. The visible wheels were all embellished with a sunburst finish.
An exact total of 1200 such movements were manufactured and bore the serial numbers 1013801 to 1015000.
1000 of these were delivered to the German Luftwaffe using a recipient named "Siegfried Heindorf" in Berlin as watches. The first batch consisted of watches were equipped with a cylindrical crown and the later batch had the conical crowns that we associate so strongly with today as a design cue.
The remaining 200 Cal 52 S.C. movements were delivered and used as deck watches by the British Royal Navy.
The German B-uhr watch was a steel case with diameter 55mm (today's modern IWC big pilot is 46mm so at 55mm is the original grand daddy of big pilots is living large!). Horn to horn the watch as 67mm and its case height was 17.5mm. The dials werre 0.9mm thick and had a diameter of 49mm. The glow in the dark coating used was radium.
IWC Ref 431 from 1940 - The Original Big Pilot's Watch
One notable marking is
the fact that "FL.23883" was stamped on the side of the case. "FL"
stood for Fliegnummer (flying number) and '23' meant a device for
flight monitoring. The final '883' digits were actually assigned by the
German Testing Office for Aeronautics (Deutsche Versuchsanstalt für
Luftfahrt).
IWC Ref 431 seen from the back - Stamped "BA 2690":
*Stamp in black color BA=factory control, the stamps have been made by certified examiner, who has ensured that the watches, they have stamped correspond in their execution to those of the sample examination of the DVL: Deutsche Versuchsanstalt für Luftfahrt.
*Stamp in black color BA=factory control, the stamps have been made by certified examiner, who has ensured that the watches, they have stamped correspond in their execution to those of the sample examination of the DVL: Deutsche Versuchsanstalt für Luftfahrt.
The "Conical" crown on the IWC Ref 431 that we associate so much with pilot's watches today.
The oversized crown allowed the wearer to operate the watch with gloves on.
IWC was not the only supplier of this navigational watch to the German
Luftwaffe. The navigation wristwatches designated "FL23883" came from
IWC, Lange & Soehne, Wempe, Walter Storz (Stowa) and Lacher &
Co (Laco). There were all extreme horological specialties and are more
than worth their weights in gold present day.
Shown below is a similar German Air Force FL 23883 watch
This time supplied by a maker in the Glashutte Region of Germany.
Note that the same numbers "FL.23883" are stamped on the side of the case.
Today the IWC "B-uhr"
legacy lives on as the IWC Big Pilot's watch. The cal 52 is not longer
used and the new movement is the IWC 5000 base that now gives it 7 days
of power reserve. The latest versions of this movement are modern free
sprung balance wheels and tick along at 21,600vph with breguet
overcoil.
Will let the pictures speak for themselves.
Will let the pictures speak for themselves.
IWC Ref 500421 - Big Pilot's Watch Edition Antoine de St Exupery in Rose Gold (4N)
IWC Ref 500420 - Big Pilot's Watch Edition Antoine de St Exupery in White Gold
IWC Ref 500422 - Big Pilot's Watch Edition Antoine de St Exupery in Stainless Steel
IWC Ref 500413 in Platinum, This is the "Father" part of a 2 watch set known as "Father & Son"
IWC Ref 500402 in White Gold
IWC Ref 500401 in Stainless Steel
The IWC Big Pilot Family
I trust that you have
enjoyed the flight into the past so far and that the flight into the
future brings more awesome pilots watches from a manufacturer can lay
claim to the crown as the de-facto standard for for a pilot's
watch....................and we have not even discussed the legendary
IWC Mark II yet!
Kind regards from 35,000 feet.
Kind regards from 35,000 feet.
More posts:
Der IWC Big Pilot's Watch (With loads of Pics)
© Decksurgeon May 2009 Der Grosse Fliegeruhr It be near impossible to cover the sheer breadth and depth of the history of the pilot's watches from the very start to present day. But here are some interesting in an abridged presentation facts and some pict...
Thanks, decksurgeon! The current line of IWC pilots watches . . .
. . . seems to have a following on TP/PPro, and your last photo brings a new dimension to 'stacking' that seems to be in vogue on the Rolex and Blancpain forums ;-). Re testing in three temperatures: the current G O Senator Chronometer is issued with a ch...
Thank you Dr no for the insight
it is very good news to know that some modern day watches still undergo some time honored traditions like 3 temperature adjustments. even more excellent to know that Senator Chronometer is one of them. Superb news to me ears
Superb post, Decksurgeon!
Nicely written ,well documented and always this link between Past And Present... Very interesting, indeed, to see the roots of the modern IWC Pilot Watches. Another interesting thing is to see, once again, how close is the design of the Lange, Laco, and I...
Very interesting...
Post. Thank you for sharing this part of history of the pilot watches As an owner of one, I appreciate it Cheers
Pilot's Watch
Thanks JM for the excellent post. Just cannot imagine the Cartier Santos Dumont as the first 'pilot's watch'....
Thank you, a most excellent read.
I thoroughly enjoyed the great detail and comprehensive background. Allow me to make one comment (which I cannot stop myself from making): The German "B-Uhr" is short for Beobachtungsuhr or observation watch in English, which as you write refers to its ro...
in this case....
Hats off to Glashutte Original as they are the ones that call their version as the Navigator cheers
