IWC enthusiast Editor-in-Chief Hirota spent two weeks wearing the IWC Big Pilot's Watch 43, released in 2021. Equipped with the Caliber 82100, the watch is over 3mm smaller than the previous model, making it suitable for even those with slimmer wrists. We explore the appeal of this "small" Big Pilot's Watch.
Text by Masayuki Hirota (Chronos-Japan)
Article published on June 2021, 6
"Little" Big Pilot
I have always been a bit naive about IWC. Before I started this job, I was a fan of old IWC watches, or so-called "Old Inter," and my love for them grew even stronger after I got to see the IWC factory and meet the people involved in my work. Therefore, I want to state in advance that my assessment of IWC is not entirely reliable.
In 2021, IWC added a smaller version of its Big Pilot's Watch line, the Big Pilot's Watch 43. While "small" Big Pilot is a strange term, the 43mm diameter is certainly smaller than the existing 46.2mm size. Additionally, the thickness has been significantly reduced, from 15.5mm to 13.6mm. I've looked at all the Big Pilot's watches since 2000, and this is likely the only Big Pilot's Watch that can be worn by people with smaller wrists.
(Right) The newly added Big Pilot's Watch 43 (IW329304). Using the Caliber 82000 series and eliminating the inner case, the diameter is 43mm. This model comes with a bracelet. There is also a model with a calfskin strap. Automatic winding (Caliber 82100). 27 jewels. 28,800 vph. Power reserve approximately 60 hours. Free-sprung balance. Stainless steel (diameter 43mm, thickness 13.6mm). Water resistant to 10 bar. 1,182,500 yen (tax included).
The key to making the reduction from 46mm to 43mm possible is the new 82000 series movement. I've written extensively about this movement, but I'd like to reiterate it here.
In 05, IWC completed the 80000 series automatic movement, which added a Pellaton automatic winding system to the existing 79000 series gear train. In other words, it was an ETA7750 with the upper part removed and a Pellaton automatic winding system added.
This was an exceptionally robust movement, but at 7.9mm thick, it was too thick to be considered a general-purpose movement. The power reserve of approximately 48 hours was also not particularly long. I love this movement, but I feel like IWC was wasting the 80000 series they had worked so hard to perfect.
About the Cal.82100 movement
Perhaps IWC had learned its lesson and rushed to develop a more versatile next-generation model. The result was the 82000 series, released in 2017. While the diameter remained the same at 30mm, the thickness was significantly reduced and the power reserve was extended to approximately 60 hours. It also now supported both central seconds and small seconds.
Its architecture is different from the 80000 series. The design is complete, cleverly combining components from the 52000 series, which has a winding time of approximately eight days, and the 890000 series chronograph. The regulator also uses the same free-sprung balance as the 89000 series. In addition, the Pellaton automatic winding has also been significantly improved. Incidentally, it is often stated that the 82000 series movement uses the gear train of the 32000 series or 79000 series, but this is incorrect.
The versatile new automatic watch, the 82000 series
Unlike typical automatic movements, the 82000 series' automatic winding mechanism is directly attached to the crown wheel. This design is similar to the half-rotor automatics of the 1950s, but it reduces the number of parts required. This means that the new Pellaton automatic movement is theoretically more durable and winds more efficiently.
Materials have also changed. The gears and pawls of the Pellaton automatic winding mechanism in the 80000 series were made of beryllium alloy, but in the 82000 series they have been replaced with ceramic. As a result, the automatic winding mechanism in the 82000 series is virtually wear-free and is almost completely undamaged even when manually wound. In my opinion, the only automatic movements that can be safely manually wound are the 82000 series and its big brother, the 52000 series, which both use ceramics in their automatic winding mechanisms.
The 82000 series, with its highly versatile and robust automatic winding mechanism, can be said to demonstrate IWC's maturity as a manufacture.
It can be easily rolled up even when doing desk work
The Big Pilot's Watch 43 is equipped with the center-second version of the Cal. 82100. The 82000 series has an indirect center-seconds gear train that does not have the fourth wheel in the center, but the movement of the second hand is consistent and there is no skipping. The 82000 series comes in two versions: a small-seconds version and a center-seconds version, but from my experience, the center-seconds version is preferable (although there is almost no noticeable difference).
The experience was excellent. On the wrist, the accuracy was an average of +4 seconds, and the positional error was small. The mainspring wound up well enough even when used primarily for desk work. Combined with its "small" size, the Big Pilot's Watch 43 is a watch that can be used for desk work. In fact, I never took it off while working at my desk.
