IWC Schaffhausen – PILOT’s Watch Chronograph Edition “Tribute to 3705” (Ref. 387905) 2021
NEW LIMITED EDITION PAYS TRIBUTE TO 1994 ICONIC “BLACK FLIEGER”
Schaffhausen, 25th February 2021 – With the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “Tribute to 3705”, IWC Schaffhausen travels back in time to honour the legendary Ceramic Fliegerchronograph (ref. 3705) from 1994.
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After fading into obscurity
for almost a quarter of a century, it became a cult classic and is now
considered one of the most sought-after models from IWC’s recent
history.
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The new tribute edition faithfully replicates the original’s dial design. Instead of using ceramic, however, it features a case made of Ceratanium®, a groundbreaking new material developed by IWC. Powered by the in-house 69380 calibre and fitted on a black calfskin strap, this special edition is limited to 1000 watches and sold exclusively on IWC.com.
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Throughout its 152-year history, IWC has created modern icons such as the Big Pilot or the Portugieser Chronograph. But tucked away in the archives, there are also hidden gems; timepieces that are overlooked before they shoot to unexpected fame. One such model is the “IWC Fliegerchronograph Keramik” from 1994, which was IWC’s first Pilot’s Watch with a case made of black zirconium oxide ceramic. Despite its use of this highly innovative material and its purist instrument design, the chronograph enjoyed little success. After only about a thousand pieces, production was discontinued a few years later.
FROM OBSCURITY TO A CULT CLASSIC
The ref. 3705 did not become famous until about a quarter of a century later. Following various articles on specialised blogs, the “Black Flieger” caught the attention of a growing number of watch enthusiasts. With luminous indices and hands, which had aged over time to a warm orange, the once-forgotten chronograph was winning collector’s hearts with its distinct neovintage charm.
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FROM ZIRCONIUM OXIDE CERAMIC TO CERATANIUM®
The newly released Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “Tribute to 3705” (Ref. 387905) pays homage to this exceptional timepiece and is limited to 1000 pieces. The dial is a replica of the original from the 1990s. Two totalizers at 9 and 12 o’clock display stop times of up to 12 hours, the small second is located at 6 o’clock. Another feature is the day and date display at 3 o’clock.
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The ref. 3705 was pioneering in the use of black ceramic, and the tribute edition likewise features a recent innovation from IWC’s material scientists: the case, chronograph pushers and pin buckle are made of Ceratanium®, an IWC-developed material that is light and robust like titanium, but also similarly hard and scratch-resistant like ceramic.
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In the first step, the case components are machined from a special titanium alloy. Afterwards, the parts are treated in a furnace firing process, during which a phase transformation takes place, and the surface of the material assumes properties similar to ceramic.
POWERED BY THE IN-HOUSE 69 CALIBRE
While the original ref. 3705 was powered by the Valjoux calibre 7750, the new Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “Tribute to 3705” boasts sophisticated movement technology from Schaffhausen. Inside the 41-millimetre case, the in-house 69380 calibre is at work. This robust and precise chronograph movement in classic column wheel design is one of the latest developments from IWC’s engineers. A bi-directional pawl winding system reliably builds up a power reserve of 46 hours.
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The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “Tribute to 3705” is available exclusively through IWC.com, wechat, YNAP, and official flagship store on Tmall as a limited edition of 1000 pieces
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Model PILOT’s Watch Chronograph Edition “Tribute to 3705” (Ref. 387905)
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO
FEATURES
Mechanical movement
– Chronograph function for hours, minutes and seconds
– Date and day display
–Small hacking seconds
– Soft-iron inner case for protection against magnetic fields
– Screw-in crown
– Glass secured against displacement by drops in air pressure
– Limited to 1000 pieces
IWC manufacture calibre 69380
Frequency 28,800 vph/4 Hz
Jewels 33
Power reserve 46 h
Côtes de Genève, perlage
Winding Automatic
WATCH
Materials Ceratanium ®
Diameter 41 mm
Height 15.3 mm
Water-resistant 6 bar
Screw-in crown
Glass Sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
DIAL
Black dial, rhodium hands
STRAP
Black calfskin strap
Strap width 22 mm
Ceratanium folding clasp
Edition
Limited edition of 1000 timepieces
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Press releases - 2021
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IWC Schaffhausen
Uwe Liebminger
Department Manager Public Relations
Mobile +41 (0)79 957 72 52
E-mail uwe.liebminger@iwc.com
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