IWC Officially Introduces its Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar Top Gun Lake Tahoe Watch

Ever since it was launched in 2007, the Top Gun collection has been one of the signature offerings from IWC Schaffhausen. The Top Gun Lake Tahoe watch was first spotted on the wrist of seven-time world racing champion Lewis Hamilton at the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix. Now making the launch official, IWC has unveiled the new Perpetual Calendar (Ref. IW503008) version of one of its most hallowed timepieces. 

It all started last year when IWC revealed three new colours for its Top Gun chronograph range — black ceratanium and ceramic, all-white ceramic and all-green. No surprise there because the brand is known for experimenting with new colours and case materials. The all-white ceramic version was named Lake Tahoe by IWC and Pantone because the colour is inspired by the service dress white uniform of the US Navy and the winter landscape around the freshwater lake.

The 46.5 mm white ceramic watch has a pitch black dial and black hands with white Super-LumiNova®. On the outer periphery of the dial, there is a white minute track with Arabic hour markers. The indications include a double moon phase at 12 o’clock (indicating northern and southern hemispheres), a date subdial with an in-built power reserve indicator at 3 o’clock, a month subdial with a black-and-white hand at 6 o’clock, a year window at 7:30, a date of the week with an in-built 60 minutes counter at 9 o’clock, and a upward moving flighter place at 10:30. At 3 o’clock, there is a large stainless steel, screw-in crown. The new IWC Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar Top Gun Lake Tahoe watch also features integrated, polished lugs.

The perpetual calendar automatically recognizes the different lengths of the months and leap years. Powering the IWC Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar Top Gun Lake Tahoe watch is Calibre 52615, delivering 168 hours or seven days of power reserve. The movement, which is based on IWC 52010, is large enough to fill the entire case. 

Turning the watch over showcases the sapphire crystal caseback with the outer ring and the large openworked central oscillating weight. Introduced in 2015, Calibre 52615 on the watch is an updated version and  sports twin barrels to deliver the seven-day power reserve. The finishing on the watch includes Côtes de Genève and perlage. The watch is completed on a white textured rubber strap with a stainless steel folding clasp.

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