IWC presents its smallest Big Pilot replica watch to date. Smaller, but not small, the latest Big Pilot is 43mm, very large and clear, but more wearable.
The brand soon followed up with the Big Pilot’s 43 Spitfire, which features the same proportions but with new styles and materials. There are two variants to choose from: titanium or bronze, but the standout is definitely the lightweight metal model.
The original Big Pilot’s 1:1 replica watch 43 was inherently attractive, large enough to be an oversized pilot’s instrument, but small enough to fit relatively comfortably on the wrist. This is in stark contrast to the original Big Pilot, which was 46.5mm in diameter.
Of the two Spitfire versions, the titanium version is distinguished by its unusual, history-inspired dial. It also has an atypical case finish that mimics a worn vintage case.
The bronze model, on the other hand, is identical to the steel model except for the bronze case and green dial – in fact, it adheres to the same formula that applies to other Spitfire models. The AAA IWC replica watches china bronze version feels like another predictable variant, but the titanium model is novel.
Like the stainless steel Big Pilot’s Watch 43, the titanium Spitfire has a dateless, unadorned dial. But the beige luminous material in the titanium version does have a noticeably more retro look, giving it a contrived feel.
That being said, the titanium version has a more pronounced military flair, thanks to the scalloped dial with oversized minute numerals, a layout unique to the Big Pilot Exact replica watches family, be it large or small.
From a purely aesthetic standpoint, the dial works well. It has an attractive aviation instrument look while also maximizing the space in the large chassis.
The Cheap IWC Replica dial also features subtle colors and textures that vary with its constituent elements. The dial itself is matte black with a grainy finish up close. The hands echo the matte black finish, making it the only Big Pilot’s Watch 43 with black hands.
The dial features three types of markings, each with a different colour to differentiate the indications on the dial according to their relative importance.
The innermost ring and hour numerals are discreet grey. Its Arabic numerals do improve legibility, but the grey font conveys the fact that the hours are not the most important indication on the IWC Replica Watch dial. That’s because pilots need minutes and seconds at a glance, not hours.
In addition to the dial, another highlight of the Big Pilot 43 Spitfire titanium watch is the case. While titanium is a common material in watchmaking, it’s rarely seen in IWC’s catalogue these days, especially for the brand’s pilot watches.
Besides the material itself, the finish of the Spitfire case is also unusual. The Copy IWC Watches case has an even, lightly worn look reminiscent of a vintage watch.
IWC sister company Panerai first used this finish when it launched the Radiomir 8 Days PAM 992. But since Panerai applies this treatment to the stainless steel case, the finish of the Radiomir PAM 992 looks finer and shinier.
Another attraction of the titanium Spitfire is the closed back, which is more traditional for aviation instruments than its steel counterpart, the sapphire back. A sturdy caseback has a real advantage, albeit a slight one. It allows the use of a soft iron inner shell or a Faraday cage to prevent magnetism.
The IWC replica watches forum Spitfire Titanium Edition is a great follow-up to the steel model, the same size but with an unusual execution, a feat considering the number of pilot watches IWC has put out. It has a different case and dial – in a good way – which easily makes it the most compelling iteration of the Big Pilot 43.
