Just noticed there's a Mark XX model now on INC'S website. Looks to have replaced the Mark XVIII. Not sure what happened to the Mark19??
https://www.iwc.com/gb/en/watch-coll...h-mark-xx.html
I would love one of these, and it looks like it has an in-house movement this time - 32111 with 120 hours power reserve, for those that find such things important...
However 40mm all dial is too big for me, I will look at the Pilot 36 to see if that has any improvements.
In house movement. Date window in a better position. Very nice. I wonder if they will release a bracelet version? Looks like they do one in a black dial too. https://www.iwc.com/gb/en/watch-coll...h-mark-xx.html
Last edited by A440; 22nd July 2022 at 18:42.
Very good spot! If there's a bracelet for this model like the one on the 41mm chrono (quick release, micro adjust via a button on the clasp, buttons to remove links) I will definitely be interested.
120 hours power reserve is impressive!
thread on WUS suggests a white dial and boutique only green dial. All available on leather or bracelet.Originally Posted by A440
A poor attempt at a release strategy, not a mention anywhere, they have been popping up in boutiques for a couple of weeks it seems.
Saw this a few weeks ago on FB.
Only difference I can see is the extended 12, 3, 6 and 9 lume plots. I like that as it makes it more legible and also makes the date wheel look less out of place like it does on the mkxviii. However this makes the Arabic numerals sit closer in to the dial which I’m not sure I like. Apparently the hands really a bit thicker on the XX and dimensions are slightly different too (it is 0.2mm thinner and looks to have a reduced lug to lug). I imagine it had the quick release bracelet too.
I like the idea of the movement improvement and quick release bracelet but the dial doesn’t work as well as the mkxvii to my eye.
Last edited by Stuno1; 22nd July 2022 at 19:19.
Wish they would go back to the hands like on the mark xv.
I tried on a mark xviii a couple of years ago and liked it a lot.
Different hands and it would be a real contender but decided to pass.
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It’s a nice looking watch.
In terms of proportions, I think the MkXVI was the best. Not a WIS favourite given the sword hands and ETA2892 inside. Still, If I had about 3k to spend on a pilot’s watch, that would be my pick
A decent watch. I don’t really care too much about in house, but it looks like it’s a branch of the 2892 architecture, made for IWC by Valfleurier, albeit with a very long power reserve.
Not for me I think, but it’s the best mark in a long time.
D
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Nice enough but unremarkable IMO.
The MK series peaked (started) with the 11 anything else since has been a bit of a mish mash in styles. (XII excepted but it has a date)
RAF dial, Luftwaffe hands, RAF derived name, Ju52 on the case back...
I realise I am a geek and the vast majority of people don’t give a **** and that sort of thing puts me off.
I’m with you. I really don’t like the mix of RAF and Luftwaffe design elements.
Agreed but I do like the XII and to a lesser extend the XV. I also think the IWC/Rake collaboration is fantastic, if only it wasn't in bronze. https://revolutionwatch.com/iwc-pilo...evolution.html
Stainless case and black dial and they would have had my money.
I never thought about that. Obvious when you think about it.
On reflection, I think I would take something by Sinn, by some margin.
Dave
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Last edited by helidoc; 22nd July 2022 at 22:18.
Looks good, never dabbled with iwc but always wanted one.
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Nice looking piece, but for me the XV was perfect. They're a touch on the pricey side nowadays, particularly on a bracelet.
What aircraft is that on the case back?
A German Ju52
A WW2 Luftwaffe transport aircraft
(It was a Lufthansa airliner before the war though)
Thanks. Does seem an odd mix of RAF and Luftwaffe references.
IWC have always been a bit confused that way.
Then again they somehow ended up producing for both sides
I discovered during the week that IWC does small-scale custom commissioned versions of their watches. The organisation I work with has an order in place for a custom version of this watch, I believe, with blue lume. There was a more colourful version that was supposed to be made but apparently it was vetoed by the IWC Board as it went against the monochrome tradition for the pilots watches. A pity, actually.
Edit: actually just I checked and it's a version of the 3-hander 'Top Gun' watch.
Last edited by barneygumble; 23rd July 2022 at 18:58.
Not during WW2, they supplied Germany only.
When they realised that no more money would be coming from Germany in the aftermath of the war, they started to supply watches to the MOD starting with the WWW specification.
This is what the Mark XX should’ve looked like. Ceramic case, Mark XI hands, closed 4. Just lovely.
That looks much better but still too bit at 41mm. It’s a lot of dial.
Looks like the Mark XVIII is still being sold but this is likely to be getting rid of the last production run like Omega did with the 1861 Speedy (it was sold along side the new 3861 models for a month or so).
I was initially sceptical about the size of my Mark18 but the reality is that these pilot watches get away with it in a way that watches like the DJ41 don't. I even think the average wristed can get away with a big pilot because its meant to be large, unlike the Datejust design imo.
Just heard back from the IWC Boutique London regarding the Mark XX. They say there will be a bracelet version released at a later date, which is good news to my ears. They're currently sold out of the leather strap versions they had in stock.
Still waiting on a no date - it can't be that hard to do. Or a Big Pilot 43 in 39 size. They could call it a Pilot 39. It would probably sell more watches than the Big Pilot 46 and 43 combined.
It’s finally 100m water resistant. Happy Days. I like it.
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There's still something strange about that date window to my eyes. They've moved the markings closer to the centre of the dial, but the date window is still closer to the centre.
Agreed. I don’t think the date position is substantially better. They extended the 3 o’clock marker to it seems less like it’s floating out of place but it’s still not right.
Some photos of the green dialled version and the bracelet.
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Looks nice, hoping to see the blue dialled version as well this weekend on strap
I am still considering getting one.Some photos of the green dialled version and the bracelet.
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Very interested to see the one beside the green dial, is fitted on a rubber strap....nice.
The blue dial watch appears to be readily available, however the black dial version is not.
Every AD that I have spoken too, does not have one.
My local Mappin and Webb has the black dial on strap. They won't discount it though
I think availability is still patchy. Some places struggle to source the blue, others the black. The bracelet is very hard to find at the moment. The one on the black rubber strap in my photo is the blue dial model. The assistant swapped the leather strap for a rubber one so I could try it out. I already have an EasX rubber strap on my 41mm chrono - they're really comfy. I think you'd have to buy a rubber strap separately though.
Thanks Ryan, pm sent
And replied :)
Still something off about that date window in the IRL pictures, but those dials look wonderful!
Not that keen about the bracelet. The old pyramid bracelet looks better. That dial is wonderful though..
The date placement is rather jarring
Date placement, hands and size don't do it for me. They should've called it a day at the MkXV IMO.
Damn it. Spent so much time looking at where they were available I ended up reading more reviews and long story short have ordered one, should arrive next week. Black dial on strap.
Hey Ryan, looking forward to your thoughts.
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Likewise, Ryan - the green dialled model should be arriving with me this week.
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It would be interesting to see how the blue compares to the le petit prince blue on the precious model.
And it's near inevitable appearance on SC ;-)
As with my comment to Ryan.Likewise, Ryan - the green dialled model should be arriving with me this week.
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I shall be interested in your thoughts :-)
This came today from the Boutique in London
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