Borna Bosnjak
All the rage at the IWC booth during the 2023 edition of Watches & Wonders was the revamped Genta Ingenieur, and rightfully so, for the most part. This story, however, is not about the Ingenieur, but IWC’s bread and butter – pilot’s watches – and more specifically, the brand new Pilot’s Chronograph 41 in stunning green and gold. The Pilot’s range from IWC has long been their front-running sports offering, especially once updated with the new EasX-CHANGE system and 100 metres of water resistance, though this latest release strays from the all-out sporty intentions of its other collection siblings. The luxurious brushing and heft of solid rose gold, paired with a sunburst green dial, makes this Pilot’s Chrono a lot more suited to polo shirts and loafers than a pilot’s cockpit. Check out our video overview of the piece below, or read on for more details.The dialThough cased in solid gold, it’s the sunburst finish of the green dial, along with its azurage brushed sub-registers, that are the more striking. With white lume throughout, with the exception of the running seconds at 6 o’clock in red, the green isn’t overly loud, as it mostly takes on deep emerald tones. The gold-plated sword handset matches the case in material, while still offering decent legibility. Finally, the dial is kept balanced by the white day and date wheels at three o’clock, separating the IWC logo and the denomination of the brand’s Schaffhausen headquarters.The caseA few years ago, or however many before green became the new black, many a watch snob would pompously lift their noses at the prospect of a green dial, as it was deemed difficult to pair with anything. Nowadays, that has been completely debunked, as the colour fits gold, white metal and PVD cases just as well as any other, and IWC’s latest attempt is just stunning. The warmth of the gold plays well with the particular shade of green, as does the mostly brushed finish, utilising polishing only as the highlights for the bezel and pushers. As is the case with any Pilot’s Chronograph in 41mm, the case is a lot better suited for those with larger wrists, owing to its height and lug-to-lug measurements of 14.5mm and 51.4mm, respectively. Sapphire crystals are present both over the dial and the caseback, the latter of which is screwed-down, helping the 100-metre water resistance alongside the screw-down crown.The strapIWC has shown keen interest in getting the word out on their patented quick exchange system that makes their Pilot’s offering that much more versatile. Christened EasX-CHANGE, the system allows the wearer to quickly and effortlessly switch out their straps and buckles, and the green and gold Pilot’s Chrono 41 comes ready with a 20mm rubber strap equipped with the feature.The movementShifting away from the venerable Valjoux 7750, IWC has been using the 69385 column wheel chronograph movement since 2021, which offers the added benefit of smoother pusher operation due to moving away from lever actuation, as well as a 46 hour power reserve.IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 IW388110 pricing and availability:The IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 IW388110 is available now. Price: A$33,400BrandIWCModelPilot’s Watch Chronograph 41Reference NumberIW388110Case Dimensions41mm (D) x 14.5mm (T) x 51.4mm (L2L)Case Material18k 5N rose goldWater Resistance100 metresDialGreen sunburstCrystal(s)Sapphire front and backStrapEasX-CHANGE green rubber strapMovement69385 Calibre, IWC manufactured, automatic column wheel chronographPower Reserve46 hoursFunctionsHours, minutes, day, date, chronographAvailabilityNowPriceA$33,400
22.05.23