Some Thoughts about the IWC Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar Top Gun Lake Tahoe

Approaching a hands-on article about a watch can take various angles, and one exciting perspective is to envision how a newcomer to the watch scene might react to a timepiece and what questions might arise during their exploration of the product. Let’s explore this approach as we delve into the mighty IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar TOP GUN Lake Tahoe (what a name…), presented by the Schaffhausen-based brand in 2023.

Imagine being entirely unfamiliar with IWC and its collections as you encounter a 46.5mm diameter, 15.5mm height watch encased in white ceramic featuring a substantial steel diamond-shaped ribbed crown. Despite its size, you’re surprised by its lightweight feel. On the matte black dial, you notice perpetual calendar indications inspired by flight instruments, complete with aeroplane images. You flip the watch over, and the sapphire crystal reveals the mechanism; you move the watch to playfully interact with the cut-out rotor adorned with the golden IWC medallion bearing Probus Scafusia. Among the engravings on the screwed caseback, a fish symbol catches your eye, and opposite a Lake Tahoe mention, prompting a curious glance.

The timepiece’s full title is Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar TOP GUN Lake Tahoe. Lake Tahoe? Isn’t that a location where billionaires like Zuckerberg, Elliot, Duffield and Milken own insanely expensive properties? What’s the connection with Top Gun pilots, and why is the pilot’s watch white? Fortunately, this part is straightforward. The matte white colour of the ceramic case, specified as “IWC Lake Tahoe” by IWC and Pantone Color Institute, draws inspiration from the dress code of pilots operating from the nearby TOPGUN fighter school that frequently fly over Lake Tahoe and the winter landscape around the lake. In 2022, the brand introduced “The Colours of TOP GUN” collection, showcasing various hues – please watch this video where Christopher Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC, elaborates on the aviation colours and the use of coloured ceramic by the brand (Woodland Green, Mojave beige, Oceana Blue and, of course, black).

As you ponder the thought and effort behind such a marketing concept, the following question pops into your mind: why would a fighter pilot need a perpetual calendar? You already know the answer. There’s no practical need, but the brand’s perpetual calendar module, a legendary creation by Kurt Klaus in the 1980s and refined over the years, is a signature IWC complication, earning its place in the Big Pilot TOP GUN collection. Mechanically programmed, the manufacture 52615 calibre recognizes varying month lengths and leap years, requiring no manual adjustment until 2100. The double moon phase display accurately depicts the moon from the northern and southern hemispheres with a precision that deviates by only one day after 577.5 years. The calendar module operates via a single nightly switching impulse, and the movement, featuring the Pellaton winding system, boasts a 7-day power reserve. Quite impressive, isn’t it?

Absolutely, you nod and slip on the Top Gun Lake Tahoe, securing the 22mm wide white rubber strap with a steel folding clasp. Despite your stature, the watch appears substantial, living up to its extensive name, and the ribbed crown immediately makes its presence felt on your wrist. It’s a bit uncomfortable, akin to many glamorous yet painful women’s shoes on the red carpet. You find yourself caught in a love-hate relationship with the watch, acknowledging the discomfort while unable to resist its allure. You rationalize that the lightweight material offsets the watch’s size, and you calm yourself by thinking the earlier versions measured 55mm, forgetting they were typically worn over the flight suit. Perhaps you remember seeing images of Lewis Hamilton wearing one, and he is not a Hulk, so for you, it should work, too.

You admire the black dial and its sharp contrast with the case, while the generous diameter ensures optimal legibility with well-arranged indications and bold Arabic indices. The four-register layout, including a rectangular year window between the 7 and 8 o’clock hour indices, showcases hands with cohesive aesthetics, featuring black borders and white luminous sections. Contemplating the evident intricacies of the movement, you’re relieved to discover that all adjustments are conveniently made through the crown at 3 o’clock.

Oddly enough, the once bothersome crown now seems inconspicuous. Despite your initial reservations, you’ve developed an appreciation for the watch and, hesitant to part with it, you decide to inquire about the price. The surprising EUR 43,000 response leaves you somewhat perplexed, as you didn’t know what to expect. “I’ll need to think about it,” you say, reluctantly handing back the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar TOP GUN Lake Tahoe to the attentive sales professional. As you leave the store, you find yourself silently cursing Lake Tahoe and its inhabitants on both the California and Nevada shores and harbouring sudden resentment towards Tom Cruise and his disarming smile. Simultaneously, you can’t help but maintain a sense of self-directed frustration, unexpectedly developing a stronger affection for this watch than for most of the individuals at the recent Christmas dinner gathering. “He’ll be back if only to see Precious again”, says the sales professional person with a knowing smile. “I am positive I can persuade him to buy the Lake Tahoe TOP GUN Chronograph.”

And just like that, I, too, find myself in love with the white ceramic Big Pilot’s Perpetual, for it is a serious and exceptionally well-designed timepiece. It takes one not only to imagine but to experience; go and see if you agree.

For more information, please visit www.iwc.com.