This watch by IWC Schaffhausen is almost identical to the previous 2012 version, the only difference being the embossed calfskin strap instead of the soft black textile strap. The ceramic case is 48 mm in diameter and 16 mm thick, solid caseback with Top Gun logo, and 6 bar water resistance.
The dial is very busy, and its most unusual feature is the four-digit year display that is capable of showing years up until 2299, after which you can have the century slider replaced with the component thoughtfully supplied with the watch, in a sealed glass ampoule that you can leave to your great-great grandchildren. This enables the timepiece to display years up until 2499. The watch takes account of all the leap years in the Gregorian calendar up until 2100, when it will need adjustment by the manufacturer, because in that year the leap year will skip its four year cycle, something that happens once a century. All displays are adjusted from the crown. The double moon phase shows the moon as seen in the northern and southern hemispheres, indicated by the N and S in the aircraft motifs on either side.
The watch is powered by the in-house 51614 calibre running at 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hertz), providing 7 days power reserve. This classic movement was designed by Kurt Klaus, and its double-hemisphere moon phase is very accurate, losing one day in 577.5 years. At the time of its inception, about 1985, Klaus’ perpetual calendar movement was revolutionary in that there were no pushers on the caseband for adjusting the various displays, but everything could be operated from the crown. In other words, day, month, moon phase and year are always synchronised. If the watch stops and you have to adjust it, all you have to do is use the crown to move the date forwards, and all the other indications will move accordingly.
The price of the watch is €36,300 incl. tax. It is already available (Feb 2016)
