Officially revealed last January at SIHH 2016 show, the newest IWC Top Gun Miramar Chronograph Replica (ref. IW389002) automatic wristwatch brings everything you loved about the Miramar collection, albeit in a smaller package. With a touch oversized case crafted from dark grey scratch-resistant ceramic and a high-contrast, yet discreet dial layout, this new model looks like a very interesting choice for a person who always wanted a dressy pilot, but wasn’t quite satisfied with earlier models and their Gargantuan proportions.
The Swiss watchmaker IWC keeps fine-tuning its top of the line Top Gun Miramar line of aviator watches. Leaving intact all the signature elements of general design, the team behind this new model carefully adjusted the timepiece in all the right places to make it a tad more compact, while maintaining well-chosen proportions of all elements of the dial and the mirror-polished ceramic case.
Still looking extremely sober and, well, manly, the watch is also quite elegant to a degree that it may actually look appropriate when worn with a business suit but it would probably look best with something like a pilot’s jumpsuit, a good pair of Raybans, and an F-16C Eagle to finish the picture. After all, IWC is still one of just two licensees of the legendary Top Gun logo owned by US Navy education facility where best of the best of US fighter pilots hone their skills.
The polished grey ceramic case is a lot more practical, albeit expensive alternative to titanium: it is a lot less prone to scratches, while still being relatively light. It’s not sure IWC has finally managed to overcome the main problem of ceramic bodies: their tendency to shutter or crack after falling on a hard surface from even desk-top height. As for the ergonomics, it looks superb: IWC’s engineers really know their stuff. The body profile is nicely curved, while the crown with its fluted sides provides good grip. Well, maybe the chronograph push-pieces are bit too long for my taste and the official water resistance rating of just 60 meters makes the piece less versatile, but otherwise it’s perfect.
By the way, the khaki-colored ‘textile’ strap that you can see on the photos is actually made from calfskin leather. While not as practical and durable as a real textile strap made in accordance to NATO standards, it is a lot more comfortable and, well, more suitable for a swiss replica watch designed for pilots who only fly their bespoke hand-crafted desks.
Incidentally, the khaki-colored ‘textile’ strap that you could see around the photos is really produced from calfskin leather. Whilst not as practical and sturdy like a real textile strap produced in compliance to NATO standards, there’s a lot much more comfortable and, well, more appropriate for any watch created for aircraft pilots who only fly their bespoke hands-crafted desks.