IWC Introduces a New “Tahoe” Version of their Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar

IWC’s Top Gun “Lake Tahoe” edition of their ceramic cased chronograph has been an object of fascination for many since its release last year. While it lacks a certain practicality (it’s 44.5mm wide) and versatility (it’s, well, bright white) it’s undeniably striking, and would seem to be the perfect watch for a handful of very specific purposes, one of which is surely sipping on brightly colored cocktail, oceanside, in Miami. There’s nothing else quite like it on the market (besides the other colored, ceramic IWC chronographs), and it presents as an interesting contrast in design sensibilities to the “normal” IWC chronographs, the ones in steel, with an altogether more sober vibe. They’re the same, but also wildly different, and illustrate how IWC has one foot in contemporary sleekness and another in paying homage to their own history, visible on the same chronograph platform. 

Last week, the Tahoe got a sequel of sorts with a new Big Pilot perpetual calendar using the same materials and design notes as the chronograph. The Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Top Gun Lake Tahoe had been seen on the wrist of IWC ambassador Lewis Hamilton recently, so the official news of its release to the public isn’t a huge shock, but as an admirer of the Tahoe chronograph it’s fun to see its expansion to another product line, and makes us wonder if we could see a Tahoe edition of the simplest IWC pilot watches. A Mark XX Tahoe? Take my money. 

That’s enough wishcasting for today, back to the watch at hand. The Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar in Tahoe guise is a 46.5mm block of white ceramic, with the same black dial found on the Tahoe chrono, as well as the same matching white rubber strap. IWC’s perpetual calendar mechanism is the 52615 caliber, developed by the legendary Kurt Klaus in the 1980s, and featuring one of the most intuitive perpetual calendar layouts in the industry, with the month, day of the week, and date each getting their own sub register, with the year, moonphase, and power reserve easily accessible as well. 

When I saw the Tahoe chronograph in person for the first time, my initial response was that it was cool looking, but just too big. Why, then, does this Big Pilot perpetual, coming in a full 2mm bigger than the chrono, seem, I don’t know, more appropriate? Maybe it’s because watches in the Big Pilot lineup wear their chief quirk right in the name of the watch itself. It doesn’t seem like a bigger version of the standard, the big version is the standard. The perpetual calendar complication also somehow seems worthy of being blown up to a more massive size. From a practical perspective, this watch will certainly be easier to read at 46.5mm than it would have been at, for example, 42mm. It’s also, clearly, meant as a statement piece and conversation starter, though it might be easier for it to fly under the radar if a normal person not being photographed by paparazzi constantly is wearing it than when seen on the wrist of Lewis Hamilton. Just a hunch. 

The Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Top Gun Lake Tahoe will be available in July. The retail price is $40,600. IWC