IWC Schaffhausen Takes High-Tech, High-Mech To New Levels With Top Gun Pilot’s Ceratanium Watches

IWC Schaffhausen is no stranger to innovation. This brand has been on the cutting edge of technology and watchmaking since its inception. Now, though, it takes its creativity to even new levels by unveiling two new Ceratanium® watches to its Top Gun Pilots watch collection. Ceratanium® is the brand’s proprietary alloy of ceramic and titanium that is harder, lighter and more scratch resistant than most other materials on the market. The brand has thus far used it for several cases, but now it incorporates not only a case but also a striking matte-black matching Ceratanium® bracelet.

The two new watches boasting this high-tech material are the Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Top Gun Ceratanium and the hot new Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Top Gun Ceratanium®. This also marks the first time that IWC has incorporated the Timezoner complication into a Top Gun model. This is one of the most coveted small complications from the brand and in the new Ceratanium case and bracelet – with bold red accents – it is even more alluring than ever.

IWC’s Proprietary Ceratanium®

It was just about four years ago in 2017 that IWC first introduced its proprietary Ceratanium® alloy for the AquatimerPerpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month Edition “50 Years Aquatimer” (Ref. 379403). Then a couple of years later, it continued the high-tech material usage in the  2019  Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph TOP GUN Ceratanium (Ref. IW371815) – the brand’s  first all-black Pilot’s Watch. Essentially,  Ceratanium® is  machined from bars  using computer-controlled turning and milling centers and are then elaborately finished by hand. Afterwards, the components are fired in a kiln at high temperatures—rendering the material scratch resistant and ultra-hard, as well as endowing it with the striking matte black finish. Using this stealth material in a Top Gun pilot’s watch – named for the Strike Fighter Tactics program that is part of the US Navy and that trains fighter pilots – makes perfect sense as it is a high-performance material.

IWC Big Pilot’s Top Gun Perpetual Calendar Ceratanium Watch

The Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual calendar Top Gun watch, crafted in Ceratanium, is super light-weight now that the bracelet is also made of the alloy instead of stainless steel. In fact, it is about 30 percent lighter in weight, making it ultra-comfortable on the wrist even in extreme circumstances. The watch is powered by the brand’s in-house-made Caliber 52615 mechanical movement with Pellaton winding system. Thanks to two barrels, the watch offers a strong power reserve of seven days.

The watch automatically accounts for leap years and months of different lengths and needs no adjustment until the year 2100 when the leap year that is supposed to take place will be skipped. The 46.2mm watch also boasts an incredible moon phase display that showcases both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. That moonphase indication is so precise that it will only deviate by one day every 577.5 years. Incredibly, it is water resistant to 6 bar. Because of the extreme complexity in building this watch, just 150 pieces will be made. Retail: $48,000.

IWC  Big Pilot’s Time Zoner Top Gun Ceratanium Watch

The second watch being showcased in Ceratanium is the IWC Big Pilot’s Ceratanium(R) Top Gun Timezoner (Ref.   IW395505), This marks the first time that the Top Gun series is graced with the beloved Timezoner® complication – so it makes sense to debut in Ceratanium®.. The uniqueness of this world time watch is that the different time zones can be set simply by pressing down and rotating the bezel. No pushers or crowns are needed. Additionally, the watch boats a 24-hour display, and the date can be moved forward or backward in one-hour increments.

While the watch is crafted of Ceratanium, the city ring is made of high-tech ceramic with the names of each of the 24 key international cities engraved on it. Luminous material highlights the key numbers on the dial (12,3,6,9) and the watch is finished with a tinted sapphire case back and a black rubber strap that features a textile inlay. This watch is powered by the brand’s in-house-made Caliber 82760 with Pellaton winding system and 60 hours of power reserve. One of the most beloved complications, the 46mm Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Top Gun Ceratanium will, sadly, only be created in a limited edition of 500 pieces. $16,900.

Impressions of the new Ceratanium IWC Big Pilot’s Top Gun Watches

While each of these two watches has something very special about it, I can’t help but say that my personal favorite is the less expensive Timezoner(R) Ceratanium watch. With its sleek look, its stealth appeal and bold red highlights, this is one of the most alluring and useful timepieces to hit the market. Add to that the fact that the time zones are so user-friendly and easy to set. It is a win-win proposition. But, with only 500 being made, it is bound to go quickly. In which case, perpetual calendar lovers may opt for the more expensive perpetual calendar.