
The design of the IWC Top Gun Miramar is based on the B-Uhr Type B watches commissioned by the Luftwaffe in the 1930s and ‘40s and made then by IWC, A. Lange & Söhne, Wempe, Lacher & Company (now Laco), and Walter Storz (Stowa). Type B had two scales on the dial, an outer ring for minutes, and an inner ring for hours. Companies like Laco and Stowa make fairly accurate reproductions of both types, as shown in the photos below with Type A and Type B-inspired watches by Laco.
The IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Top Gun Miramar (reference IW324702) is a modern interpretation of the B-Uhr Type B, with American military colours and a strap in embossed green calfskin. This reference is a new addition to the Top Gun Miramar collection, with the same self-winding movement (IWC 30110, based on the ETA 2892-A2) providing 42 hours power reserve. The watch has a ceramic case 41 mm in diameter, 11 mm thick, with a soft-iron inner case for protection against magnetic fields. It is water-resistant to 6 bar.
IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Top Gun Miramar, reference IW324702, is one of the brand’s entry-level watches at a price of €6,150, £4,290 incl. VAT. Available from April 2016.