Time on the Wrist: IWC Big Pilot's Watch 43

Jul 12

Jul 12 Time on the Wrist: IWC Big Pilot's Watch 43

Although the trend toward larger watches seems to be receding, there will always be certain watches that will always be what they are due to their size. The IWC Big Pilot is certainly one of them.

For those with smaller wrists, like myself, that poses a couple of problems. The traditional Big Pilot’s Watch actually covers the entire expanse of my wrist, which makes it seem like I'm almost wearing a desk clock (even though they do make an excellent desk clock). The whopping 15.5mm height doesn’t make matters easier on a smaller wrist.

My genetics are to blame here, and none shall be placed on IWC as they did what they do best, and that is making kick-ass watches that truly apply the less-is-more approach. Due to the great execution of a clean, straightforward design, the Big Pilot has been one of the longest running watches in all of IWC’s offerings, and it’s extremely likely that this collection will continue in perpetuity.

And now, those with smaller wrists can rejoice in the fact that 2021 brought a whole new chapter for the Big Pilot, with the release of the Big Pilot 43. In the grand scheme of things, a change of 3mm is not very big at all, but in watch dimensions, it's really significant.

The IWC Big Pilot’s 43 on our CEO’s wrist. Photo: Kathleen McGivney

Naturally, a reduction in diameter will usually lead to a shortening of the watch as well, and this new Big Pilot’s Watch is no exception. At a more modest 13.6mm in thickness, it sits rather comfortably on the wrist, making it much easier to wear for longer periods of time, and once its calf strap is nicely broken-in, it will probably feel like wearing nothing at all. This model is actually slightly shorter than my IWC Portugieser, and I know that I can comfortably wear that piece all day with no issue.

However, it wasn’t only the watch wearability for the smaller-wristed that changed with this model. Most obvious is the lack of a power reserve indicator on the dial, which in truth isn’t really necessary, since the movement powering this version has a 60 hour power reserve vs. the larger Big Pilot’s 7-day reserve. To some, that might be considered a setback, but I would rather have the open case back and get an actual view of the movement, happily trading it for the soft iron case and power reserve indicator.

Powering this watch is the IWC Manufacture Cal. 82100, from the 82000 series, which includes some of the finer points generally found in the Cal. 52000 series movements that power the traditional Big Pilot. From a distance, both families of movements resemble each other a lot. The 3D architecture grants the eye a much deeper look into the movement. This is especially notable with the ceramic pawls that have been a recent inclusion in the already great Pellaton winding system, best known for its efficiency in automatic winding and buttery smooth feel with each manual turn of the crown.

The overall execution of the 43mm Big Pilot is solid, and is certainly a strong contender for the next watch to make it to my collection. My small wishlist that would make this watch a complete grand slam for me: a slightly smaller onion crown (although I get why they put it there), and a power reserve display on the dial. With those two items, this watch would have been a solid 10 of 10 in my book.

Overall, I enjoyed wearing this watch for the short time I spent with it, and it still brings out a lot of what I personally love about the Big Pilot, in a size that is more accommodating to smaller wrist sizes. I would personally score this watch at 8.6 of 10, which is near perfect.