The IWC Pilot Watch Automatic 41 Black Aces is an extraordinary timepiece, inspired by collaborations with U.S. Navy squadrons, which introduces a groundbreaking feature – a fully luminous white dial crafted from a solid disc of Super-LumiNova®. This innovation revolutionizes night visibility for aviators. Encased in black zirconium oxide ceramic, the Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 Black Aces houses the IWC-manufactured 32100 caliber movement, offering an impressive 72-hour power reserve.
IWC has been developing cockpit instruments for over 85 years, thanks to constant talks with expert pilots. This collaboration enables IWC’s engineers to adapt to the unique requirements of aviators. The Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 Black Aces (Ref. IW326905) pays tribute to the expertise obtained via collaboration with the United States. Strike Fighter Squadron 41, often known as the “Black Aces,” is based at Naval Air Station Lemoore in California and has a storied history dating back to 1950. It now serves as part of Carrier Air Wing 9.
The fully luminous white Lumicast dial, a result of collaboration with pilots, is the outcome of a complex manufacturing process. It begins with high-grade Super-LumiNova® pigments mixed with a binder, cast, and cured, resulting in a dial that enhances legibility and pays tribute to the “Black Aces” with its ace of spades emblem. During dark chamber tests, this dial consistently emitted a bright greenish light for more than 23 hours, revolutionizing nighttime visibility.
Super-LumiNova®, a cutting-edge ceramic compound that works as a light storage battery, is at the heart of this dazzling miracle. It absorbs light energy from both natural and artificial sources, allowing its electrons to enter a higher energy state and store it. When these electrons return to their normal condition, the absorbed energy is released as visible light, making the material glow in the dark. Surprisingly, this procedure can be done indefinitely without reducing the luminosity or capacity of the material.
The case of the Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 Black Aces is crafted from black zirconium oxide ceramic, a material IWC pioneered in the watch industry decades ago. Second in hardness only to diamonds, it offers impeccable scratch resistance and durability. Its lightweight nature suits the confines of a jet cockpit, and its matte-black finish prevents distracting reflections. The case back features an engraving of the “Black Aces” twin-engine jet against a spade backdrop.
Powering this remarkable timepiece is the IWC-manufactured 32100 caliber movement. Complementing the soft-iron inner case, the movement’s anti-magnetic silicon escapement enhances its resistance to magnetic fields. With a double pawl winding system, it boasts an impressive 72-hour power reserve. This aviation masterpiece comes with a black textile strap featuring a sand-blasted stainless steel pin buckle.
The Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 Black Aces is exclusively available online at IWC.com offering enthusiasts and aviators the opportunity to experience this game-changing timepiece. Additionally, buyers can register their watch under the My IWC care program, which offers a remarkable 6-year extension to the standard 2-year International Limited Warranty.
