IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Edition “SFTI” in Black Ceramic and Ceratanium

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Swiss luxury watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen expands its TOP GUN range of Pilot’s Watches with the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN Edition “SFTI”.

The new model takes inspiration from the “Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor” watch, which was created in 2018 in honor of the US Naval Aviation Community and is available only for TOPGUN graduates. Thanks to the combination of a black ceramic case with a Ceratanium® case back and pushers, the sporty chronograph boasts a tactical, matte black design code.

IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Edition “SFTI” in Black Ceramic and Ceratanium

In 2018, IWC created the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor” in collaboration with instructors based on Naval Air Station Leemore in California. Featuring a case made of black ceramic and the iconic TOPGUN patch on the dial, the rugged chronograph is available exclusively for graduates of the Navy Fighter Weapons School.

The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN Edition “SFTI”, limited to 1500 pieces, takes inspiration from the acclaimed “Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor” watch. It follows the tradition of IWC’s TOP GUN watches. It is made with extraordinarily robust materials to withstand the extreme strain that pilots experience in the cockpit of supersonic jets like the F/A-18 Super Hornet.

IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Edition “SFTI” in Black Ceramic and Ceratanium

The large 44-millimeter case is made of black zirconium oxide ceramic, which is one of the hardest substances on earth. It is extremely scratch-resistant and its stealthy black color is totally anti-reflective. The case back and chronograph pushers are made of Ceratanium®, a recent innovation from IWC’s materials engineers. This new material is as light and durable as titanium but at the same time as similarly hard and scratch-resistant as ceramic.

IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Edition “SFTI” in Black Ceramic and Ceratanium

Thanks to the combination of ceramic and Ceratanium®, the chronograph boasts an entirely matte black design. The tactical look is completed by a black dial and black hands coated with luminescence. The small second hand and the tail of the chronograph second hand, which takes the form of a jet, add a touch of red to the instrument-style dial.

IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Edition “SFTI” in Black Ceramic and Ceratanium

This Top Gun watch houses an IWC manufactured 69380 calibre, a robust self-winding chronograph movement in classic column-wheel design that ensures precise timekeeping and the measurement of stopwatch times of up to 12 hours. Another function is a date and weekday display.

This timepiece is fitted with a green textile strap.

Technical details

Model: IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Edition “SFTI” (Ref. IW389104)

Functions
Date and day display
Chronograph function for hours, minutes and seconds
Small hacking seconds

Movement
IWC-manufactured calibre 69380
Mechanical chronograph movement
Frequency: 28,800 vph / 4 Hz
Jewels: 33
Power reserve: 46 h
Winding: Automatic

Case
Ceramic case, Ceratanium® case back, crown and pushers
Diameter: 44 mm
Height: 15.7 mm
Soft-iron inner case for protection against magnetic fields
Screw-in crown
Glass: Sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
Glass secured against displacement by drop in air pressure
Water-resistance: 6 bar

Dial
Black dial, black hands

Strap
Green textile strap