What are IWC's "Mark 20" and "Mark 12"? Explaining the "Pilot's Watch Mark XX"!

Among IWC's flagship Pilot's Watch collection, the Mark series is a perennial favorite as a practical watch. We take a closer look at the appeal of the latest model, the Pilot's Watch Mark XX, while also taking a look at its roots, the Mark 11.

What is the IWC "Mark" series?

　IWC is a brand founded in Schaffheisen, Switzerland in 1868 by American watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones. Over its long history, the company has produced many masterpieces, including the Portugieser, Ingenieur, and Aquatimer. One of the company's most iconic collections is the Pilot's Watch. This collection consists of two main series: the Big Pilot's Watch and the Mark series, both of which originated as military watches.

　The Mark series has its roots in the Pilot's Watch Mark 11, which was launched in 1948 as a pilot's watch for the Royal Air Force. Featuring a highly legible dial design, anti-magnetic properties thanks to a soft iron inner case, an integrated bezel and middle case to withstand changes in air pressure, and the robust hand-wound movement Cal. 89, the Mark 11 earned the utmost trust from Air Force pilots who fought in extreme conditions, and remains a coveted collector's item even today.

　Fast forward to 1994, and the Pilot's Watch Mark XII, a civilian model in the Mark series, was released. Its basic design, including a 36mm case, was largely the same as the Mark XI, and it was equipped with a Jaeger-LeCoultre automatic movement. This was a pilot's watch with full-scale specifications for professional use, befitting the technically sophisticated brand IWC. The Mark series continued to evolve, focusing on its practicality as a pilot's watch.

　The culmination of this effort is the Pilot's Watch Mark XX, released in 2022. Featuring a 40mm case that combines visibility and ease of handling with a dial featuring rosette hour and minute hands modeled after the Big Pilot's Watch, a design that continues from the Pilot's Watch Mark XVI, the Mark XX is a popular choice for a wide range of people as a leading practical watch.

　The movement has undergone a particularly significant change compared to previous Mark series models. From the Pilot's Watch Mark XV to its predecessor, the Pilot's Watch Mark XVIII, the watches were equipped with a tuned-up ETA general-purpose movement, but the Mark XX is equipped with the Cal. 32111 movement, which features a ratchet-type automatic winding mechanism, a silicon escapement, and a long power reserve of approximately 120 hours.

　Another appealing feature of the Mark XX is the wide variety of variations available. In this article, we will pick out four representative models and explain their features.

Current Pilot's Watch Mark XX models

IWC Pilot's Watch Mark XX, Ref. IW328202

　This model features the classic black dial of the Mark series. The combination with the white Arabic numerals creates excellent visibility and gives the watch a tough impression befitting a pilot's watch. Previous Mark series models with black dials featured hands with black borders, but this model has been unified in silver, enhancing the sense of luxury.

　At first glance, it looks very similar to the previous Pilot's Watch Mark XVIII, but it has been steadily updated to improve its practicality, with longer 15-minute markers and shorter lugs. It's also pleasing that the water resistance has been improved to 10 bar, making it safe to use in a wider range of situations.

　Also noteworthy is the new Cal. 32111 movement, which boasts a long power reserve of approximately 120 hours and modern specifications such as a silicon escapement. The movement itself has excellent antimagnetic properties, eliminating the need for a soft-iron inner case, which results in a slimmer case.

IWC Pilot's Watch Mark XX, Ref. IW328204

　This model features a refreshing blue dial. Until now, the blue dial of the Mark series was available as the "Petit Prince," but with the Mark XX, it has been added to the regular lineup. While retaining the design of a pilot's watch, such as Arabic numeral indexes and rose-shaped hour and minute hands, the sunray-finished dial adds a touch of elegance, making it a model that is easy to use in business situations where a suit is worn.

　One of the attractions of the Mark XX is the wide range of strap options available. This model is fitted with a five-link stainless steel bracelet. Each link is short, allowing for a flexible fit. The combination of hairline and polished finishes gives it a dressy look.

　Another appealing feature is the ease of adjusting the bracelet links. It features a familiar IWC mechanism, allowing the user to easily insert or remove links by poking a pin into the underside of the links. What's more, the IWC logo on the three-fold buckle is a button, which can be pressed to easily fine-tune the wrist size. The EasX-CHANGE® system also allows the strap to be removed without the use of tools.

IWC Pilot's Watch Mark XX, Ref. IW328207

　This model features a dressy silver-plated dial. The black indexes and hands ensure excellent legibility. The Mark XX's date disc is white, regardless of the dial color. The charm of the silver dial is that the color of the date disc and the dial are consistent.

　Like other variations, the stainless steel case has a hairline finish with polished accents in various places to create a three-dimensional effect. The structure in which the bezel and middle case are integrated is a distinctive feature of the Mark series. It is also suitable for daily use, with features such as an easy-to-operate crown and a slim case that makes it easy to handle. While the case back does not have a see-through caseback, the movement cannot be viewed, and there is a bold airplane engraving in the center of the caseback.

　The black calfskin leather strap is equipped with the EasX-CHANGE® system, which allows it to be easily attached and detached from the case by pressing the button on the back.

IWC Pilot's Watch Mark XX, Ref. IW328205

　The Mark XX features a vibrant green sunray dial. While the Mark series has seen numerous variations, the introduction of the green dial as a regular model has undoubtedly helped it gain wider support. While retaining the nuances of a tool watch, it exudes elegance and fashion.

　Apart from the dial color, this model has the same specifications as other models. It features a date display at the 3 o'clock position, and its slim case ensures a comfortable fit. The Cal. 32111 movement is a high-spec movement with a silicon escapement for anti-magnetic properties and a power reserve of approximately 120 hours.

　The watch is fitted with a brown calfskin leather strap with white stitching, which complements the green dial perfectly. In addition to the leather strap, the Mark XX is also available with a stainless steel bracelet or rubber strap, allowing you to easily swap between them using the EasyX-CHANGE® system.