2021 marks the 10th anniversary for online luxury menswear giant MR PORTER, and the retailer is celebrating its first decade with a year full of limited edition partnerships. Its partnership with IWC is one of the highest-profile of these arrangements, and the collaboration has spawned a limited edition variant of the recently introduced IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 with a masculine and charismatic new colorway. Available exclusively through MR PORTER, the limited edition IWC “10 Years of MR PORTER” Limited Edition Pilot’s Chronograph is a refined and handsome take on IWC’s cornerstone design and a suitably trendy salute to one of the pillars of online menswear.
The IWC “10 Years of MR PORTER” Limited Edition Pilot’s Chronograph begins with a 41mm case in bead blasted bronze. The overall case form follows the formula of the standard Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41, with its slab case sides, steeply sloping narrow bezel, and classic inverted pushers. What sets this new model apart in a growing field of bronze pilot watches, however, is the alloy used for the case. Where many watchmakers opt for a reddish alloy that highlights the more rugged character of bronze, IWC uses an alloy that appears almost like yellow gold in initial images. This lighter, yellower tone gives a more refined look, but thanks to the matte finish this doesn’t completely abandon the tough feel of bronze. The brand fits this model with an engraved titanium caseback, featuring an exclusive engraving celebrating 10 years of MR PORTER.
IWC keeps the warm yet rugged golden color palette intact through the dial of the “10 Years of MR PORTER” Limited Edition Pilot’s Chronograph. The matte black dial surface is heavily grained for a semi-tropical look, which is further reinforced by the sandy beige used for the soft printed Arabic numerals and dial text. This uniform khaki tone also hides a subtle nod to a decade of MR PORTER. Only the indices at 12 o’clock, 3 o’clock, 6 o’clock, 9 o’clock, and the 10 o’clock numerals are printed with matching Super-LumiNova, while the other hours numerals receive no lume. Under low light, then, the lone glowing “10” reveals itself to mark the retailer’s 10 year anniversary. While this is a cleverly subtle way to integrate a tribute into the existing dial design, it’s difficult to imagine this won’t have an impact on low-light legibility. IWC rounds out this warm, smoothly vintage look with a gold tone handset to match the case.
Inside the IWC “10 Years of MR PORTER” Limited Edition Pilot’s Chronograph beats the in-house 69380 automatic chronograph movement. While it may mimic the layout of the stalwart Valjoux 7750, the 69380 is a manufacture design with a solid 46 hour power reserve at a 28,800 bph beat rate. IWC pairs the watch with a pilot-style fully stitched strap in textured black Alcantara. The suedelike look and feel of this material plays well with the warm matte look of the rest of the watch, and should offer somewhat more durability than traditional suede.
With a stylish colorway, unique materials, and an in-house movement, the IWC “10 Years of MR PORTER” Limited Edition Pilot’s Chronograph offers a sartorial but under-the-radar tribute to the popular menswear retailer. Only 110 examples of the IWC “10 Years of MR PORTER” Limited Edition Pilot’s Chronograph will be made, and the watch is currently available for pre-order exclusively through MR PORTER’s online retail platform. To learn more, please visit MR PORTER.
