IWC - Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Tourbillon Markus Bühler IW329901

IWC unveiled the Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Tourbillon Markus Bühler IW329901, the successor to the Markus Bühler edition IW500301 from 2008. Price 138,000

IWC unveiled the Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Tourbillon Markus Bühler IW329901, the successor to the Markus Bühler edition from 2008, but with a significant difference.

This time, the characteristic aircraft turbine that appears at 6 o'clock is integrated into a flying minute tourbillon.

The first edition from 2008 was initially created as an entry for a competition organised by the “Institut de Formation à la Haute Horlogerie,” in which Markus Bühler won first prize. After finishing his apprenticeship as a watchmaker, Bühler remained loyal to IWC where he is now serving as Associate Director of Watch & Movement Assembly.

The Big Pilot’s Watch Edition Markus Bühler ref. IW500301 from 2008 

Limited to 51 pieces, the new interpretation of the “Markus Bühler” watch comes in a polished platinum case measuring 43 mm x 14.5 mm (compared to the 46.2 mm x 15.8 mm steel case of the 2008 model).

In a tourbillon, the balance and escapement are housed in a small cage that rotates around its axis once per minute. Keeping this mechanism moving requires energy, and reducing weight is crucial in tourbillon design. That's why the turbine was made from a lightweight titanium alloy.

After machining, each of the twelve minuscule blades was carefully hand-polished to achieve a detailed and aesthetically pleasing finish.

To avoid the turbine adding additional weight to the mechanism, Bühler used it as the upper part of the tourbillon cage, replacing the regulator. 

This means the striking feature on the dial serves a technical purpose too: the hairspring connects to the underside of one of its blades, and the watchmaker can adjust the balance's zero crossing by turning the turbine.

The entire tourbillon mechanism consists of 56 parts and weighs only 0.663 grams. The pallet lever and the escape wheel were treated with Diamond Shell technology, a special coating that reduces friction and improves the energy flow in the movement.

Protected by an arched-edge sapphire crystal with antireflective coating on both sides, the black lacquered, glossy dial has been imprinted with white numerals and features applied indices filled with Super-LumiNova.

Visible through the sapphire case back, the IWC-manufactured 82905 calibre operates at a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) with a power reserve of 80 hours built by a Pellaton winding system reinforced with ceramic components. The plates, bridges and the rotor were blackened with a PVD coating, then laser-engraved and finally rhodium-plated in the engraved areas.

Paired with a black Cordovan leather strap with Markus Bühler’s signature printed on the inner side and water resistant to 10 bar, the new IWC Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Tourbillon Markus Bühler Ref. IW329901 is priced at Euro 138,000 / US$ 140,000. iwc.com