INTRODUCING: The All-New IWC Big Pilot 43 Tourbillon "Markus Bühler"

IWC has provided the horological world with some truly awe-inspiring innovations throughout history - all thanks to the genius engineering and craftsmanship at work in Schaffhausen. Enter: Markus Bühler. He first rose to prominence back in 2003 when the award-winning watch he designed and created for his IWC apprenticeship was put into production - and ultimately became a cult classic. The original Markus Bühler Big Pilot brought the aviation motif to new heights with the turbine small seconds hand, and now, IWC is ready to up the ante with their new Big Pilot 43 Tourbillon Markus Bühler, limited to only 51 pieces worldwide.

THE BASICS:

BRAND: IWC Schaffhausen

Model: Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Tourbillon Markus Bühler

Case Material: Platinum

Case Size: 43mm

Water Resistance: 10 bar (100m)

Movement: IWC Calibre 82905

Movement Specs: 80-hour power reserve, IWC-signature Pellaton winding system, Tourbillion, Small Seconds

Strap Options: Cordovan Leather in black

THE JUICE:

Markus Bühler is a twenty-year veteran of IWC, after having apprenticed for them, culminating in a near-perfect final examination score upon his graduation. His 2003 entry to an IFHH apprentice competition not only won, but was put into limited production. Now, twenty years later, Markus Bühler is reintroducing his brainchild to the world with a gravity-defying update: a tourbillon. Toubillons rotate once per minute, making it the perfect marriage for the turbine-style small seconds hand at six o’clock. The craftsmanship behind each blade of the rotor is truly something special. While the original had indicators at 15 and 45 seconds, the re-release does not, maintaining as pure an aesthetic as possible.

The case bears the classic Big Pilot silhouette and crown, but is crafted from platinum for a less rugged finish than the typical IWC Pilot’s watch (this is haute horology after all). The dial is what one would expect from IWC - No nonsense. Rhodium-plated hands adorn the otherwise simple and sleek dial with contrasting Arabic hour markers. The case pairs perfectly with the excellent quality of the supple cordovan leather strap and signature IWC Pilot deployment clasp that Pilot’s Watch fans have come to expect. As always, IWC took every detail into consideration, and the end result shows.

So how much is the Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Tourbillon Markus Bühler Watch?

Price for the this piece is only available upon request.

Read more about the watch on the brands website here.