Though SIHH 2012 is just weeks away I still have a few special watch previews to share.  For IWC, 2012 will be all about its “Pilot’s watch” collection, following 2011 being the year of the Portofino.  Thus, here is the new IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph “Top Gun Miramar” edition, one of five new Pilot’s watches we can expect to see from IWC for 2012.   The IWC Top Gun Miramar watch is a tribute to the place in California where the myth of the elite pilot (the “Top Gun”) was born.

This watch features a sleek looking dark grey ceramic case (48mm in diameter — pilot worthy, but far too large for me), and a somewhat vintage-military color set, including the green textile strap.  My first impression is ho-hum.  I guess it is that the colors on the dial do not work for me.  IWC claims this is by design for reasons of providing increasing focus on the hours and minutes ( camouflage-like beige minute markers and hands) rather than the hours (red, inner-ring).   I’m not a fan of the “3-date” window, either.  Ah well, there will be more to talk about, including a new Pilot’s Watch Worldtimer….stay tuned in to Perpetuelle.

IWC Big Pilot’s Watch TOP GUN Miramar (Ref. 5019)

48mm ceramic case, IWC cal. 89365 flyback chronograph movement, green textile strap

titanium caseback:

And of course who can forget TOP GUN, the 1986 movie starring Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, and Val Kilmer  – my association, not IWC’s

Perpetuelle SIHH 2012 Previews >>> Ralph Lauren Slim Classique, Richard Mille RM037, A. Lange & Sohne Datograph Up/Down Watch, Cartier Skeleton Pocket Watch, Cartier Rotonde de Cartier Minute Repeater, Baume & Mercier Capeland Flyback Chronograph,  Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 40th Anniversary Watch, Panerai PAM 422, Girard-Perregaux 1966 Small Second, Piaget Altiplano Skeleton Automatic, Cartier Cadran Lové Tourbillon