Grande Montre d’Aviateur and Montre d’Aviateur Mark XVII
Legends such as the Grande Montre d’Aviateur from 1940 or the Mark 11 from 1948 have a decisive influence on the current look of classic aviator watches. Their 2012 vintage heirs, the Grande Montre d’Aviateur and the Montre d’Aviateur Mark XVII, demonstrate that IWC Schaffhausen is writing, more than seventy years on, a new cha- piter in the absolutely unique history of these watchmaking pioneers.
IWC Schaffhausen is a must for anyone interested in professional aviator watches today.
The 1936 IWC Special Watch for Aviators gave and still gives this family of watches its face. IWC introduced the stop-second with the Grande Montre d’Aviateur of 1940, while the Mark 11 of 1948 represented a new milestone in terms of precision, robustness and reliability. That’s why their rightful heirs must feature in the new collection.
The Grande Montre d’Aviateur (ref. 500901) has been IWC’s flagship since 2002 and has remained virtually unchanged. Its IWC 51111 hand-wound caliber – IWC’s largest automatic movement – houses all the technology that has proved its worth over the long history of IWC mechanical watches. In record time, the spring-bridge-mounted winding rotor and the Pellaton ratchet winding mechanism store enough energy to ensure a power reserve of seven days
before the refined mechanism stops the movement after exactly 168 hours. This sophisticated stopping device prevents the last of the spring’s resources from being used up. Uniform precision is thus guaranteed throughout the entire power reserve. The “3 o’clock” power reserve display provides reliable information on the remaining operating time until the movement stops. The Grande Montre d’Aviateur features a date display at “6 o’clock” and a center seconds hand, essential for use in aeronautics. The 46-millimeter-diameter case features a soft-iron cage to protect against extreme magnetic fields.
For business suits and pilot uniforms
The historic Grande Aviateur watch from 1940 has undeniably and greatly inspired the de- sign. A sleek matte black dial, the arrowhead re-fathered at “12 o’clock” and contrasting luminescent numerals and hands ensure that the time can be read to the minute in all lighting conditions. The Grande Montre d’Aviateur is the only timepiece from IWC Schaff- hausen to feature a pronounced crown, a reminiscence of the days of aviation pioneers who had to brave the wind and weather in unheated or even open cockpits. As they wore padded uniforms and thick gloves, the crown was large and easy to handle, allowing the watch to be set and wound even when wearing gloves. A long leather strap with double buckle and secure clasp enabled the watch to be worn over the pilot’s uniform.
Nowadays, the Grande Montre d’Aviateur is worn not only with a uniform, but also with an elegant business suit. The current stainless steel version features a black alligator strap. The folding clasp is slightly more pronounced to better accommodate the watch’s case diameter.
The heir to the legendary Mark 11
The function and form of the Mark XVII Aviator’s Watch (ref. 326501, 326504) are based on the elegant design of classic aviator’s watches. The black dial with white hour-markers has been reduced to its simplest form, in the manner of on-board instruments, with priority given to optimum legibility. The stainless steel case is now 41 millimeters in diameter, 2 millimeters larger than its predecessor, the Mark XVI. For this model, too, IWC’s designers have adapted the date window to the cockpit instrument look; with its vertically arranged numerals, it is reminiscent of an altimeter. The current date is indicated by a bright red triangular marker, an element inspired by the red controls also found on aircraft and which has since become a specific feature of IWC Aviator Watch design. The 6-bar water-resistant timekeeper is equipped with the calibre 30110 automatic watch movement, which guarantees a 42-hour power reserve. Like all its predecessors, the Mark XVII meets the stringent demands placed on professional Schaffhausen Aviator Watches in terms of precision and robustness. The Mark XVII is the worthy heir to the legendary Mark 11 of the 1940s, with its soft-iron inner case providing anti-magnetic protection and sapphire crystal with secure fixing in the event of sudden depressurization. Its in- terne case in a special high-conductivity alloy perfectly conducted the magnetic field lines of radio and radar equipment around the movement. A simple yet ingenious solution that contributed to the model’s immense success. Thanks to its remarkable technical features, the Mark 11 was for many years the official service watch of the pilots and navigators of the Royal Air Force, the British air force. The design of its dial has remained a benchmark for the creation of aviator watches to this day. The most famous IWC Mon- tre d’Aviateur quickly became a cult object in the eyes of watch enthusiasts. The few examples still in existence function as they did on their first day, and are highly prized by collectors.
The current version, the Mark XVII Pilot’s Watch, is a welcome addition to the IWC Pilot’s Watch range. It is available with a black alligator strap and pin buckle, or with the new stainless steel bracelet with precision folding clasp.
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