Finally gave the black dial on leather and blue dial on steel 43mm Big Pilot a whirl earlier. Great footprint. The dimensions are spot on. Thickness, wingspan, head weight, balance, everything just so. The blue on steel with a backup brown strap would be my pick. That movement is handsome and looks nicely sized for the case. Overall I’m scoring 9/10. Quality looks, can be casual and dressy enough for a suit. IWC got this one right and it’s a lot of watch for the money. The legibility is second to none.
With a lug to lug of 53mm it's still going to be a challenging wear for many, the lug to lug is a very important measurement when thinking about how a watch will wear and sit on your wrist, crazy that many pro reviewers still don't carry a vernier caliper with them.
Nice move by IWC. I used to own a G.O. Senator Navigator at 44mm and that was as big as my 7.25” wrist could handle. So the older Big Pilot’s 46mm scared me. At 43mm, this new model may be a perfectly sized pilot watch.
wow a very pleasant surprise! great review! love how you described it as 'clean and focused'. what is the lug to lug measurement? now i am really looking forward to a redesigned 'mark 19', hopefully 38-39mm with an inhouse movement
I wore a 46 big pilot on my small wrist. The 46 big pilot encloses a soft-iron inner case that protects the movement against magnetic fields. With the sapphire glass back on the 43, the soft-iron case seem missing. Would it have a poorer protection against magnetic fields?
It is a nice piece... with a few subjective gripes: Personally I am not interested in the open caseback. I prefer the iron inner cage of the BIG Big Pilot. This watch feels very fashion-forward for a watch, that really is the ultimate tooltastic piece. Sacrilege. Further I am very critical of the polished links on the bracelet.
I tried it on, HATED It. Felt like a cheap toy compared to the real Big PIlot and the entry level Pilot chronograph versions. That is just me, it's a nice watch with the added display caseback for entry level buyers.
Not really a review more of just information but anyway.... here's the thing. If you want a Big Pilot, get THE Big Pilot. This looks more like a big Mark 18 rather than a smaller Big Pilot.
I don't get how IWC justifies their prices. A time only, no complications, no precious metals, basic flieger style case... for the price they're asking its just ridiculous
Finally gave the black dial on leather and blue dial on steel 43mm Big Pilot a whirl earlier. Great footprint. The dimensions are spot on. Thickness, wingspan, head weight, balance, everything just so. The blue on steel with a backup brown strap would be my pick. That movement is handsome and looks nicely sized for the case. Overall I’m scoring 9/10. Quality looks, can be casual and dressy enough for a suit. IWC got this one right and it’s a lot of watch for the money. The legibility is second to none.
Love mine the 43mm is perfect on my 7.5” wrist so much so that I now want the 43mm pilot’s chronograph to add to the collection
With a lug to lug of 53mm it's still going to be a challenging wear for many, the lug to lug is a very important measurement when thinking about how a watch will wear and sit on your wrist, crazy that many pro reviewers still don't carry a vernier caliper with them.
Nice move by IWC. I used to own a G.O. Senator Navigator at 44mm and that was as big as my 7.25” wrist could handle. So the older Big Pilot’s 46mm scared me. At 43mm, this new model may be a perfectly sized pilot watch.
Added so my collection blue face . Love it
wow a very pleasant surprise! great review! love how you described it as 'clean and focused'. what is the lug to lug measurement? now i am really looking forward to a redesigned 'mark 19', hopefully 38-39mm with an inhouse movement
Not sure exactly but the reduction in the casesize cuts down the lug to lug by about 3 to 4 mm.
52 mm lug to lug
lug to lug is 53mm
You missed a key feature of the new bracelet. It has the same individual link removal system as the Lange Odysseus.
Rolex’s horrible release is giving a lot of other brands great attention
Thanks for representing the entire watch community. Not
@@wengjai SMD
How resistive to magnetism is this regarding the sapphire case back?
I wore a 46 big pilot on my small wrist. The 46 big pilot encloses a soft-iron inner case that protects the movement against magnetic fields. With the sapphire glass back on the 43, the soft-iron case seem missing. Would it have a poorer protection against magnetic fields?
I can sense there being a lot of very attractive releases at this price point this year..I’m worried for my wallet 🤣
I need this watch in my life…
The Price for a Watch with 3 Hands, 3 days inhouse and leather Strap is ridiculos. Probably you get 30%
I wish there was a date
No
I cannot make my mind up on that yet
No way!
Should have a date just like the other big pilot
Looks so much better without the date
What black leather strap with the white stitching is that? I see that the 43 doesn't come with black straps!
The straps in the video are dark brown or very dark blue
A great slick advert
Great visuals and I appreciate the brisk pace of the content delivery. Need to practice not POPPIN’ your P’s into the mic though.
Thanks for the tip!
43 nice
Fixed springbars?
Yes.
Nope. Regular springbars.
What is the lug to lug?
53
What was the stain on clasp on 4:09 ?
It looks to be a protective sticker that's usually on watches and buckles to keep them from getting scratched before unboxing.
It is a nice piece... with a few subjective gripes: Personally I am not interested in the open caseback. I prefer the iron inner cage of the BIG Big Pilot. This watch feels very fashion-forward for a watch, that really is the ultimate tooltastic piece. Sacrilege.
Further I am very critical of the polished links on the bracelet.
Kind of get that - like I wouldn't want to see an open case back on a submariner. It makes watches look more fashion focused
And so you get to keep buying the BIG big pilots watch. Works for everyone!
The Mk19 needs to be like this. No date, diamond crown. The Mk18 was too bland, basically a remade Mk16.
this time just right
I tried it on, HATED It. Felt like a cheap toy compared to the real Big PIlot and the entry level Pilot chronograph versions. That is just me, it's a nice watch with the added display caseback for entry level buyers.
Not really a review more of just information but anyway.... here's the thing. If you want a Big Pilot, get THE Big Pilot. This looks more like a big Mark 18 rather than a smaller Big Pilot.
I don't get how IWC justifies their prices. A time only, no complications, no precious metals, basic flieger style case... for the price they're asking its just ridiculous
Without a date and a power reserve - this seems like a Big Mark with an onion crown rather than a Smaller BP !
At 43 this is not a Big Pilot bit a fu*** Small Pilot...