IWC

The aviation-themed watches produced by IWC Schaffhausen pays homage to IWC’s heritage of producing timepieces for civil aviation purposes. During the pioneering days of aviation, pilots endured the elements in unheated cockpits and limited safety measures. Known for its resistance to large fluctuations in temperature and antimagnetic properties, the early IWC Pilot’s Watches were particularly robust and reliable tools preferred by civil pilots to accompany them on their flights.

The first Pilot’s Watch by IWC was produced back in the 1930s, and the contemporary lineup of Pilot’s Watches continue to find inspiration in the aesthetics that defined the timepieces that accompanied pilots in the sky almost a century ago.

Launched in 2021, the IWC Reference IW3881-02 Pilot’s Watch is a nod to the genesis of modern aviation by marrying the functionalities of a pilot’s watch with IWC’s signature timeless design. Featuring a chronograph complication, the stopwatch function is a crucial feature for aviators as it allows them to measure different tasks such as, but not limited to, elapsed time for navigation, calculating distances, and fuel consumption. The layout of the dial is clean and easy to read despite the many functions, in order to enable the pilot to read the watch easily. The watch is powered by the IWC-manufactured, self-winding caliber 69385 that can be observed via the crystal display back.

From the personal watch collection of Tom Brady, the former ambassador for the brand, the present example is cased in stainless steel and fitted with a beautiful blue sunburst dial. It sits on the wrist at 41 mm offering a substantial presence and is in excellent condition. The watch can be worn with its original bracelet, as intended for this model, or on a strap, which is how Tom preferred to wear it.