IWC Schaffhausen is having a great year. Take a look at what we saw from them at SIHH just last month and you’ll see products that speak to true enthusiasts looking for perfect everyday products. We’re talking about watches that harken back to the good old days of the brand: smaller cases, cleaner designs, and quite simply, more of that original IWC DNA that made us fall in love with the no-nonsense take on the pilot’s watch from years back. But one very special pilot’s watch that wasn’t shown during Geneva, but is available as of right now here in the HODINKEE Shop, is one we put our touch on. Say hello to the IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Edition “HODINKEE.” We started with a 39mm case, a self-winding caliber wrapped in an anti-magnetic cage – this is a pilot’s watch after all – and a dial you simply can’t argue with. A 39mm pilot’s watch with no date (we did mention there isn’t a date window, right?) is a great thing on its own, but we wanted to push things further. The case here is made of a proprietary alloy called Ceratanium® – a hybrid that is as light as titanium and as scratch-resistant as ceramic. This pilot’s watch is made in a limited production of 500 numbered pieces with a portion of those being retailed right here in the HODINKEE Shop. The price is $6,400 and it’s just killer.

Sun Moon

IWC And The Pilot’s Watch The inspiration for the IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Edition “HODINKEE” dates back to the clean lines and restrained design of the ultimate post-war pilot’s watch – the Mark 11 from 1948. Purists and collectors alike love the Mark 11 for its aesthetic simplicity and tough-as-nails demeanor. When it was first launched back in 1948, the Mark 11 was praised for its anti-magnetic soft iron inner shield and clean, legible dial. What set IWC’s example apart during that time was their use of the caliber 89 movement, which was both accurate and reliable. The Mark 11 stayed in production until the mid-1980s, when the Mark XII was introduced, and all the way through until the Mark XVIII launched in 2016. The IWC Schaffhausen Mark 11, circa 1948. Around the same time the Mark 11 was retired, another type of pilot’s watch was introduced and marked a first for the brand – the cult classic IWC ref. 3705 Fliegerchronograph with black ceramic case. To us at HODINKEE, the 3705 represents the very best of modern IWC – a thoughtful use of then space-age new materials with tried and true self-winding calibers executed with little fuss. The 3705 was first launched in 1994 and remains one of the most sought-after references in IWC history, living in the collections of some of the world’s most astute collectors. Former IWC Schaffhausen executive Günter Blümlein’s example sold this past fall for $53,000 at auction. We wanted to recreate the feeling of the 3705 Fliegerchronograph with our limited edition.

The IWC ref. 3705 Fliegerchronograph in black ceramic from the mid-1990s (left) and the IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Edition “HODINKEE” in Ceratanium® (right).

The IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Edition “HODINKEE” The IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Edition “HODINKEE” isn’t just a no-date pilot’s watch – it’s the modern incarnation of the Mark 11 and the 3705, with little details that make it live well outside the other pilot’s watches from IWC Schaffhausen shown last month. First of all, the watch is made of Ceratanium®. If you were following along at SIHH this year you may have noticed the Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph TOP GUN Ceratanium® made out of this new material. It sits at the very top of the IWC pilot’s line. Ceratanium® boasts the lightweight feel of titanium and the scratch resistance of ceramic and it took IWC five years to develop – and it’s completely proprietary. Ceratanium® starts as a unique titanium alloy that contains zirconium oxide, which is then cut and milled into finished watch components – after they’re shaped, brushed, and polished, the nearly finished parts go into a special oven. This is where the transformation takes place. Once the outermost parts of the metal reach a certain temperature, the zirconium oxide hardens into ceramic crust that fuses to case (not to be confused with a coating). The color turns matte black and the finish is extremely resistant to scratches, wear and flaking. The result is a tough-as-nails, light-as-a-feather 39mm case for easy wear. You can’t believe how light it is.* IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Edition “HODINKEE” $ 6,400 Visit the Shop Next up is the dial. Again, we keep it simple and include a nod to the IWC of yesteryear with painted white Arabic numerals with stick indexes at three, six, and nine o’clock. And at 12 o’clock? The characteristic arrow seen on old pilot’s watches. The handset with center seconds matches the luminous stick and arrow indexes. Overall the dial is legible and reminiscent of the vintage pilot’s watches that we all love so much. The strap is a durable olive green embossed calfskin strap with Ceratanium® pin buckle. In fact, the crown, buckle, and caseback are all made of Ceratanium®, which is something you just can’t do with ceramic. Bet you’ve never noticed that, have you? The movement inside the IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Edition “HODINKEE” is the IWC caliber 35100, which is a no-date automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve. On the back you’ll see a no fuss solid caseback per usual but with far less text relative to the existing pilot’s collection.

On The Wrist Wearing this watch is exactly how you imagine it – comfortable, lightweight, and easy. One of the most delightful things about this watch is the texture of the Ceratanium® – a soft finish that’s not too harsh on the skin. The 39mm case is, to us anyways, the perfect size for a watch like this: big enough to be present and legible, but small enough to wear comfortably under a cuff. But the thing about this watch is that it just works. It’s subtle and thoughtful without being fussy, and that matte black case against the olive green strap is just fantastic.