Upshot: IWC’s pilot’s watch game has always been strong — after all, it manufactured the famed Mk. 11, perhaps one of the most iconic aviation watches of all time. However, the brand’s newest reference, the Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Spitfire Edition “The Longest Flight” (and here on out just the “Timezoner”), is particularly exciting, as it’s been developed to suit the needs of two special pilot’s in particular, who aim to fly around the world in a WWII-era Supermarine Spitfire. Thankfully, it’s also available commercially, though in a limited edition of only 250 pieces. The watch features a unique combination 24-hour indicator and time zone setting mechanism that works in conjunction with the bezel for easy setting.
Who It’s For: The Timezoner was specially developed for pilots Steve Boultbee Brooks and Matt Jones, who will need the functionality of quick-adjusting to new time zones as they make their way around the world in one of the most iconic fighter planes of the Second World War. However, anyone who travels frequently and appreciates being able to easily adjust his or her watch to a new time zone is a potential customer for the new Timezoner (so long as he or she doesn’t mind a larger watch — the Timezoner is 46mm wide).
First Impressions: The IWC manufacture calibre 82760 is the real standout here (though the watch itself is pretty sharp-looking). The wearer sets the time to a different time zone by means of the rotating bezel, which also jumps the hour hand, date, and integrated 24-hour display, which takes the form of a rotating disc. The movement features wear-resistant ceramic parts and a 60-hour power reserve.
Aesthetically, the Timezoner retains many of the hallmark IWC pilot’s watch styling cues: Mk. 11-derived triangle and two-dots at the 12-hour mark, vintage-style lume, large Arabic numerals, oversized onion crown and black dial. The rotating bezel is adorned with city names for easy reference when changing time zones, and the watch ships on a green canvas strap, completing its military and aviation-themed look.
Insight: Though pricing is not final and is subject to change, the Timezoner’s MSRP should be around $12,400. While this is certainly real money for a steel tool watch, IWC has packed the Timezoner with interesting, practical functionality and an in-house movement. This is a serious aviation watch developed specially for a specific mission, which is evident in its feature set (time zone jumling, 24-hour display, world-timer function, glass secured against displacement by drops in air pressure, 46mm case for easy reading in a cockpit). Though the Timezoner is certainly an oversized watch, its a watch meant to be used as a serious tool, and in our book, there’s nothing cooler than that.