The First IWC Pilot's Watch With A Fully-Luminous Dial

August 28, 2023

IWC is back with another U.S. Naval aviator squadron watch, this time with the Strike Fighter Squadron 41 (VFA-41), also known as the "Black Aces," based at Naval Air Station Lemoore in California. And for the first time in a production IWC pilot's watch, the new Pilot's Watch Automatic 41 Black Aces has a fully lumed dial with hands to match. With a 41mm by 11.4mm thick, the watch should feel familiar at first glance, with the same hacking seconds caliber 32100 as the 41mm Top Gun. But the dial certainly stands out and makes it a very different-looking watch. SuperLumiNova pigments are mixed with a binder, cast into a circular mold, and hardened to a ceramic-like durability. That solid disc is then fixed onto the soft-iron dial, before black printing is applied. According to IWC, the dial should have a greenish light for more than 23 hours. The watch will be available online only for $6,800. What We Think Well, IWC certainly has my attention. Ceramic cases and a luminous dial are two things that instantly pique my interest as both are just plain cool. And with the new "Black Aces" Pilot Watch, IWC is building on a solid platform of the 41mm Top Gun released back in 2019. In fact, everything looks the same except for the dial and the price. My quick take is that despite my love of luminous dials, the Black Aces patch emblem is a bit distracting. IWC has made it a point to collaborate with a ton of US Navy squadron, and maybe the "black" in "Black Aces" equates to a dark, nighttime vibe, but this would have been an easier win in my book if they just stuck to the Top Gun logo. I'm not deep in the aviation world, so maybe there's civilian fans of certain squadrons that are clamoring for anything with the squadron's patch, but I'm hoping IWC will find other ways to use the luminous dial in the future. The thing that redeems it, however, is that after doing a little digging, I found out that the "Black Aces" squadron actually designed their own custom Mk. XVIII pilot's watch that was delivered earlier this year. That watch must have gone on to inspire this release. Now that's pretty cool. The Basics Brand: IWCModel: Pilot's Watch Automatic 41 Black AcesReference Number: IW326905Diameter: 41mmThickness: 11.4mmCase Material: CeramicDial Color: White full-lume dialIndexes: Black painted Arabic numerals with stick and block minute and five minute indexesLume: Fully-lumed dial made of a solid disc of Super-LumiNova?Water Resistance: 60 metersStrap/Bracelet: Black textile strap The Movement Caliber: 32100Functions: Hours, minutes, central hacking secondsDiameter: 25.6mm Power Reserve: 72 hoursWinding: AutomaticFrequency: 28,800 vphJewels: 21Additional Details: Sapphire crystal, convex, antireflective coating on both sides; "Black Aces" patch on dial; purported 23 hours of luminosity Pricing & Availability Price: $6,800Availability: Online only Shop this story For more information visit IWC. The Hodinkee shop carries a variety of pre-owned IWC watches.