The IWC Pilots Watch Chronograph 41 Top Gun Ceratanium

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At Watches and Wonders 2022, which is held annually in Geneva, Switzerland, IWC brought several new chronographs with them from their Top Gun line, including the 41 mm Top Gun Ceratanium. While the watch line itself is not new, nor is it a promotional product of any kind, it seems hard to view this as strictly a coincidence – this year will see the long-awaited release of “Top Gun: Maverick,” the sequel to the legendary 1986 action film starring Tom Cruise as the titular aviator. It was originally scheduled for release in 2019, was pushed back to allow time for additional post-production on some of the flight sequences, and was pushed back once again due to the coronavirus pandemic.

And truthfully, if anybody should be presenting a series of Top Gun-inspired chronographs at this event, it should indeed be IWC, as they are uniquely qualified to do so. However, in order to understand why that is the case, you would have to know a little bit about the history of IWC as a company.

What is the History of IWC?

IWC was founded in 1868 in Schaffhausen, Switzerland by Florentine Ariosto Jones, an American watchmaker and engineer who had noticed the potential of combining the quality of Swiss craftsmanship with the engineering capability of American machinery. This was considered something of a radical idea at the time, but today, IWC is one of the leading Swiss watchmakers in the world.

One of the company’s claims to fame is that they were one of the first to mass-produce chronograph wristwatches and bring them to the general public, including their storied Pilot’s Watch, which was one of their earliest successes. Thus, it makes perfect sense that a watch like the Top Gun, which is very much in the spirit of that original watch, would go on to continue its legacy.

A Technical Overview of the Top Gun Ceratanium

The Top Gun Ceratanium measures at 41.1 mm, which is sort of an unusual measurement – watches normally come in at even numbers, and we are curious as to what led to that choice on IWC’s part. It has a thickness of 14.5 mm, and is encased in black ceratanium, which is a highly durable alloy. It is indexed with a series of white tinted markings and is water-resistant to 100 meters.

The watch is powered by the IWC 69835 caliber, and its functions include hours, minutes, seconds, day, date, and a 12-hour chronograph. It has a power reserve of 46 hours, is winding and automatic, has a frequency of 4 Hz and 33 jewels, which is higher than average for a wristwatch’s movement.

How Does the Top Gun Ceratanium Fare In Terms of Its Design?

When one hears the words “Top Gun,” there are a few words that immediately come to mind: precision, sleekness, accuracy, no doubt due to the massive impact the original Tony Scott film had when it was released in 1986. For many people, that was the first time they had ever heard the term “top gun” before.

This watch certainly reflects the precision of a military fighter pilot in its design, as is it all black and features a highly legible dial. The three sub-dials are also extremely easy to read as well, ensuring that even in less than ideal conditions, you would still likely be able to read this watch’s face.

It’s also worth taking a moment to point out just how nice the watch actually looks from an aesthetic standpoint. Its design is slick, clean, and mechanical – everything you would want in a watch that is supposed to be inspired by the best fighter pilots in the world. As far as chronographs go, one could certainly do a lot worse than this timepiece.

What Are Our Final Thoughts on This Watch?

Overall, IWC seems to have done an excellent job with this newest iteration of the Top Gun line, and longtime fans of IWC chronographs will likely find something to be excited about here between the mechanical precision that was clearly applied to the making of the watch and the beautiful craftsmanship that was executed in its design. IWC is not the type to ever show anything less than their best in all of their watches, and that attitude is clearly present in this piece.

Retailing for $12,600, the piece is also surprisingly affordable, which makes it even easier to recommend on top of everything else we have already said about it thus far. In short, if you’re looking for a smooth, reliable chronograph to add to your collection with style to spare, this is absolutely a piece that you should consider looking at, especially if you are just starting to explore chronographs for the first time.

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