IWC
Big Pilot's Watch 46
IW501001
IWC's definitive oversized pilot watch, built around the in-house Cal. 52110.
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Overview
The IWC Big Pilot's Watch 46 reference IW501001 is a stainless-steel expression of IWC's long-standing commitment to large-format pilot watches. Measuring 46.2 mm in diameter, it pairs a commanding black dial with the manufacture calibre 52110, a movement developed entirely in-house by IWC. Produced from 2016 to 2021, it represents a key chapter in the modern Big Pilot lineage.
History
IWC's Big Pilot line traces its philosophical roots to the oversized aviation instruments of the mid-twentieth century, and the modern series has carried that heritage into contemporary watchmaking. The IW501001 was introduced in 2016 as part of a generation of Big Pilot references powered by the then-new Cal. 52110, marking a significant step in IWC's in-house movement development. The reference remained in production until 2021, during which time it served as the core stainless-steel, black-dial expression of the 46 mm Big Pilot family. Collectors regard it as a definitive iteration of the format before IWC subsequently revised the Big Pilot line.
Notable points
- 46.2 mm stainless-steel case follows the oversized proportions historically associated with aviation instrument watches.
- Calibre 52110 is an IWC manufacture movement, reflecting the brand's investment in in-house movement production during the 2010s.
- The large onion-shaped crown, a signature Big Pilot detail, is designed for ease of operation while wearing gloves.
- Matte black dial with Arabic numerals and a prominent central seconds hand maintains strong legibility in keeping with pilot-watch tradition.
- Produced across a five-year window (2016–2021), the IW501001 is now a discontinued reference sought by collectors of modern IWC.
Specifications
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