IWC Pilot Chronograph 43mm Review
Although my watch collection ranges in case size from 36-45mm, the perfect size to me is generally 37-39mm. That’s what is so shocking about this big beast of a watch. Every time I put it on, it absolutely blows me away. Starting with the amazing blue dial of the Le Petit Prince edition, it reflects and plays with the light so well, it’s as if you always get to view it from a new perspective every time you glance at it. The small splash of red on the running seconds hand is the perfect little pop of color to keep it interesting. The case is thick, no doubt. But something about how cleanly it’s finished makes it seem so much more refined than just a big block of metal on your wrist. It has a great balance of brushed and polished surfaces that truly represent the quality of IWC. The bracelet it came with is smooth, sleek, and matches the high quality finishing of the case. The quick adjust on the clasp makes sizing a breeze. However, for me it was just a bit too much flashy metal. I swapped it out for an aftermarket horween leather strap and opted for one with the traditional pilot style rivets on each side. It’s the perfect complement to this wonderful design. The movement, although not in house on this model, is quite accurate and the day and date functions have a precise and satisfying click when adjusted. Since this model is discontinued, you can likely get it at a discounted price like I did, making it one hell of a buy. Even at retail I feel like it is worth every penny. If 43mm sounds like too big of a case for you, I’d still recommend trying on this gem from IWC. It is the whole package and then some.
IWC Pilot Chronograph 43mm Review
Yes
No
- The blue dial is incredible.
- The case dimensions make it very wearable even for a big watch
- Plenty of strap options that work nicely
- Not an in house movement
- Lume is not on every marker
- Too large for some
I am an educator both at the K12 and university graduate level and am passionate about all things watch related. I have a large collection from Baltic and Boldr to Rolex, JLC, and Cartier (and everywh...
The Valjoux caliber — accurate, reliable, easy to service, cheaper — was a plus for me 😊