Fergus Nash
The first rule of half-arsed journalism is that if something happens twice it’s a coincidence and if it happens three times then it’s a trend. On that basis the theme of the past week has been bronze-cased watches with blue dials. Along came the?Norqain Freedom 60 GMT Bronze Midnight Blue,?followed in quick succession with the Rado Captain Cook Chronograph. But today we present a grittier, more characterful option in the IWC Pilot's Chronograph 41 in Bronze. Between the complex dark patina on the case and the rich golden dial details, IWC have delivered something you can really sink your teeth into.It may have been a couple of years since bronze cases were the biggest trend in watchmaking, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be done in 2022 especially not when it's done this well. This particular alloy of bronze contains aluminium and iron to increase the hardness, making it around 50% tougher than regular bronze. It also gives it a dark, almost reddish patina that looks much more appropriate for this watch than the greens and blues we've seen on other bronze watches. The case has a matte bead-blasted finish that dulls the shine regardless of how clean you keep it, not allowing any confusion with gold that would make it seem like more of a luxury item. The size is a crowd-pleaser too for those who enjoy a bold but wearable sports watch, being 41mm in diameter with a lug-to-lug of 50.8mm, and a 14.5mm thicknessThe dial of the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 in Bronze is a masterclass in consistency, with a balance between warm and cool tones equally spread around. The blue colour is a deep navy to match the fabric strap, and it has a way of making the bronze feel regal. The gold-toned hands are slightly brighter than the other yellow tones or metals, which actually aid the legibility without disrupting the delicate colour scheme. With the printed and luminous elements, an aged-white colour travels beyond patina and into a glorious cream that's matched with the day and date wheels too. For an additional pop of colour, the running seconds subdial at 6 o'clock is filled with crimson.The in-house IWC calibre 69385 represents a fine example of Schaffhausen engineering. You can see the decoration and the tough-looking column wheel from the sapphire display caseback, past the skeletonised winding rotor. It has a beat rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour within a 46 hour power reserve, and that satisfying “ka-chunk” feeling when you activate the pushers. Other admirable features of the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Bronze include 100m of water resistance that ensure the watch is swimmable, although you should take care not to press any of the chronograph buttons while submerged. The leather-backed fabric strap also may not be great to soak, so you can use the quick-change system to swap straps around as needed.IWC Bronze Pilot’s Chronograph 41 pricing and availability:The IWC Bronze Pilot’s Chronograph 41 is available now for purchase.?Price: $10,900 AUDCase MaterialBronzeCase Dimensions41mm x 14.5mm x 50.8mmWater-Resistance100mDialBlueStrapsBlue fabricMovementIWC calibre 69385Power Reserve46 hoursComplicationsHours, minutes, seconds, chronograph, date, dayPrice$10,900 AUD
03.06.22