New for 2016, IWC is launching a world time watch which, according to the brand, is the first watch that allows the wearer to set a second time zone along with hour and date with a single move. The IWC Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Chronograph is a new model joining the ranks of a refreshed pilot’s watch line being unveiled by IWC at SIHH 2016 which are designed to evoke the older Pilot’s Watches from around the WWII period (like the IWC Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 48 & 55 Limited Edition Watches).
After IWC’s purchase of Vogard’s patent on their TimeZoner watch (review here) in late 2014, we are now seeing their world time watch with the IWC Pilot’s Watch Timezoner chronograph (Ref. IW395001). A rotating bezel allows the wearer to easily change timezones, and we assume the feature will find a lot more mainstream success with IWC’s marketing machine behind it. It’s also important to note that this watch also borrows the IWC Aquatimer’s SafeDrive rotating bezel (IWC Aquatimer Automatic 2000 Hands-On here). What this means is that there’s a quasi-internal bezel that is controlled by moving the outer bezel. Functionally, this translates to the inner bezel revolving the opposite direction as the outer bezel. What this results in is the ability to show a new timezone and time of day with a turn of the bezel.
The watch isn’t as small as some of the other Pilot’s Watches of this year at 45mm wide and 16.5mm high on the wrist. Available in stainless steel, the watch is water resistant to 60 meters. Aesthetically, I love the black and white dial with red splash on the second time zone hand. Legibility looks great and it actually seems like the wearer would be able to take advantage of the watch’s functions with relative ease. Another feature of this watch is the ability to read the hours and minutes recorded by the chronograph on the totalizer at 12 o’clock, with stop times up to 60 seconds shown by the central chronograph hand. A flyback function allows the wearer to set the chronograph back to zero and start a new timing sequence immediately. A cool little feature IWC has patented is a small “S” on the rotating bezel that indicates if a city recognizes summertime (daylight saving). This deals with the annoying fact of cities jumping ahead or going back a few hours, which would certainly provide a headache for someone wearing a world timer.
Taking a look at the back of the case, there’s a simple stainless steel case back with a depiction of a Junkers Ju 52 plane. Back in the 1930s this was the most common civilian aircraft, so it’s easy to see why IWC chose it for their TimeZoner.
The IWC Timezoner Chronograph features the new automatic 89760 calibre movement, which operates at 4 Hz and has a power reserve of 68 hours. In line with most of the new IWC Pilot’s Watch collection, the Timezoner will come on a calfskin strap. It sports the worn-looking Santoni patina along with the softer, orange leather lining. Price is $11,900. iwc.com