IWC Schaffhausen’s TOP GUN edition of Pilot’s Watches Chronograph ‘SFTI
Luxury watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen has launched the TOP GUN edition of Pilot’s Watches Chronograph ‘SFTI’.
In 2018, IWC had created the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition ‘Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor’ in collaboration with instructors based on US Naval Air Station Leemore in California. Featuring a case made of black ceramic and the iconic TOPGUN patch on the dial, the rugged timepiece was awarded exclusively to the graduates of the Navy Fighter Weapons School.
Extending the IWC’s partnership with the US Naval Aviation Community, the new SFTI model takes inspiration from this Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor watch.
Limited to only 1,500 pieces, it is made with extraordinarily robust materials to withstand the extreme strain that pilots experience in the cockpit of supersonic jets like the F/A-18 Super Hornet.
F/A-18 Super Hornet
Its large 44-millimetre case is made of black zirconium oxide ceramic. With a Vickers rating (a way to measure the hardness of material) second only to that of a diamond, the ceramic ranks among the hardest substances on earth. It is scratch-resistant and its stealthy black colour is anti-reflective.
The case back and chronograph pushers are made of Ceratanium, a recent innovation from IWC’s materials engineers. This new material is as light and durable as titanium, but at the same time as similarly hard and scratch-resistant as ceramic. The combination of ceramic and Ceratanium gives the watch an entirely matte black design.
The tactical look is completed by a black dial and black hands coated with luminescence. The small seconds hand and the tail of the chronograph seconds hand, which takes the form of a jet, add a touch of red to the instrument-style dial.
Ticking away inside the sturdy case is the IWC manufactured 69380 calibre, the robust watch movement in classic column-wheel design ensures precise timekeeping. The measurement of stopwatch times of up to 12 hours. Another function is the date and weekday display. The sporty timepiece is fitted with a green textile strap.
