Brand
IWC Schaffhausen Pilot's Watch Worldtimer Ref. IW3262-01
Few watches maintain as much cultural recognition as the IWC Big Pilot design. Drawing its foremost design influences from World War II-era aviation designs, the modern IWC Pilot's Watch collection, and the Big Pilot in particular, have come to define the quintessential pilot watch design. This example, the IWC Pilot's Worldtimer, is a unique take on that original aircraft instrument-inspired design, being a unique "world time" variation and providing globe trekking capabilities in a format distinct to the Schaffhausen-based watchmaker.
At its launch, the IWC Pilot's Worldtimer was the only world timer or GMT-style travel watch within the larger Pilot's Watch collection offered by the brand. Significant in part due to its unique place in IWC's collection, the watch was also distinguished from the traditional world time system offered by most other brand's since the complication's introduction in the 1930s. Whereas most other world timers use a rotating reference city ring and a fixed index, the Pilot Worldtimer does the opposite, fixing its bezel and having a rotating 24-hour index.
The watch is powered by the IWC's caliber 30750, which is a heavily modified version of the reliable ETA 2892-A2. The caliber was specially adjusted by the brand to allow for its unique world time capabilities, in addition coming standard with a 40-hour power reserve and frequency of 28,800 vph, while being finished with perlage and Côtes de Genève and protected by a solid steel case back.
Eventually, the IWC Pilot Worldtimer was phased out with the launch of its successor in the 2014 launched Pilot's Watch Timezoner Chronograph, which introduced a namesake chronograph into the design. Yet while now discontinued, the Pilot Worldtimer still stands today as a useful and unique variation of the classic Big Pilot.
This version of the pilot watch style, the IWC Pilot's Worldtimer, was launched in 2012 as part of the brand's refresh of their signature Pilot's Watch collection that year. At the time, it was remarked as an interesting take on the classic Big Pilot silhouette, updating the style with a useful and novel-executed world time complication with its fixed outer city reference ring and rotating 24-hour AM/PM index.
The watch uses a 45mm steel Big Pilot silhouette, being large on the wrist in diameter, but not overbearing by its 14mm thickness. Finished throughout with an action-ready brushed finish and refined with accents of polishing, the six-bar water resistant piece feels supremely durable and ready for a life of adventure.
While similar to previous Big Pilot watches in terms of its case dimensions, underneath the sapphire crystal, the individuality of the watch is on full display with its namesake world time complication foremost drawing your attention. Along the outermost edge, a fixed internal bezel with 24 reference cities sits curved and outlines the highly legible dial, a counter-rotating black and white 24-hour chapter ring enabling the wearer to quickly discern the time in any of the globe's principal time zones, in addition to AM/PM status via its contrasting black and white colorway.
Taking a step closer to the center of the dial surface, a familiar IWC Pilot's Watch configuration is showcased with the highly legible white hour markers and large pilot-style hands contrasting to the deep matte black dial color. The traditional style is accented only slightly at the three o'clock position, where a roulette style date disc is on display with the precise date read via a small red triangle.
This particular Pilot's Worldtimer is in overall excellent pre-owned condition, which indicates that there are signs of very light wear, possibly some small scratches on the case. The case has been professionally refinished. The caseback is marked with information about the model as well as the serial number. During our quality control check, any necessary adjustments are made to ensure the watch is functioning as intended.
The dial, crown, case, movement, strap, and clasp are all signed by IWC. In addition, this watch comes with the original IWC box, manuals, and papers dated April 2013, matching the serial number on the watch.
*NOTE: Please be aware that this watch comes with an alligator leather strap as an accessory. If the watch is shipped to any international destination, we will not be able to include the alligator strap due to laws regarding the sale and shipment of exotic leather goods. In this case we will include a fashiontourbillon.com strap.
Florentine Ariosto Jones founded International Watch Company in 1868. Prior to IWC, Jones was a director at E. Howard & Co. in Boston, MA. IWC was founded with the idea of combining American engineering capabilities with Swiss craftsmanship.
