IWC Pilot Chrono 41 Incoming

[samson66]

Just received this new-to-me beautiful blue IWC Pilot Chronograph 41 today. Been eyeing this watch for a while now and finally decided to pull the trigger after my favorite seller OCROLEXGUY (Patrick) got a mint condition one in stock on bracelet less than a year old at a good price.

Initial thoughts are that they really got a lot right with the redesign. The 41mm size is perfect. The slimmed down 14.5mm thickness has transformed the wearing experience. The EasX strap/bracelet changing system is brilliant along with the proprietary link removal system. Add that to the micro adjustment built into the IWC logo on the clasp, and this may be the best sports watch bracelet I've ever experienced. This thing wears like butter. Ultra comfortable with the five link design.

I love the pilot watch design of this chronograph. Everything on the dial is incredibly legible. All subdials are easy to read, and I really appreciate that they managed to get the date AND day on the dial and still kept the thickness <15mm. The big hands and indices really show up great on the dial, and the blue sunray dial looks amazing IMO.

The in-house movement looks really sharp through the sapphire caseback. The screw down crown and increased 100m water resistance have turned this into a REAL all-around sports watch.

As for negatives, about all I can think of is the somewhat disappointing lume (cardinal indices and hands only) and the lowered resistance to magnetism, which is a trade-off for the display caseback.

Enough yapping on my part, onto the pictures!

[GolfJunkie]

Congrats Mike!!

I love this one, been very close a few times myself.

[danwang0520]

Great pilot watch, congrats!

[PanosI]

Big congrats, Mike!

I absolutely love the 3881-02.

Mine says hi

[aquawatch]

Brilliant watch, I've just picked up it's greener younger cousin!

How good is the IWC jubilee bracelet?! In my opinion, it's on par with Rolex quality and has a nice on-the-fly micro adjustment system. In my experience, it's a far superior bracelet to its main competitors (being Grand Seiko/Omega/Breitling/Panerai/Hublot, etc).

[samson66]

Originally Posted by GolfJunkie

Congrats Mike!!

I love this one, been very close a few times myself.

Originally Posted by danwang0520

Great pilot watch, congrats!

Originally Posted by PanosI

Big congrats, Mike!

I absolutely love the 3881-02.

Mine says hi

Thanks guys!

[samson66]

Originally Posted by aquawatch

Brilliant watch, I've just picked up it's greener younger cousin!

How good is the IWC jubilee bracelet?! In my opinion, it's on par with Rolex quality and has a nice on-the-fly micro adjustment system. In my experience, it's a far superior bracelet to its main competitors (being Grand Seiko/Omega/Breitling/Panerai/Hublot, etc).

The Mark XX is such a killer watch, and agree on the bracelet. If I wasn't lookign for a chrono, that would have been my next choice. I'd even put this IWC bracelet up there with the Rolex Oyster. The five link design gives it a comfort level similar to the jubilee, but it feels every bit as robust as the oyster. It also does all this (plus on the fly micro adjust) with a much smaller and less intrusive clasp. I wish Rolex and others would adopt similar quick change end links like IWC.

[john333]

Beauty Mike! I came very close to buying this one last year, but opted for the Petronas version in titanium. The smaller 41mm case size is perfect and the quick change bracelet/strap system is wonderful. Their rubber straps are super comfortable…only downside is they never seem to have them in stock.

Great pick up…congrats!!!

[1William]

Congratulations.

[samson66]

Originally Posted by john333

Beauty Mike! I came very close to buying this one last year, but opted for the Petronas version in titanium. The smaller 41mm case size is perfect and the quick change bracelet/strap system is wonderful. Their rubber straps are super comfortable…only downside is they never seem to have them in stock.

Great pick up…congrats!!!

Oh man that Petronas IWC is pure

That's an incredible watch. Congrats!

Quick question, can straps be ordered online or do I have to go to an AD? I'd like to add the blue leather strap for winter use but my AD is an hour away.

[john333]

Originally Posted by samson66

Oh man that Petronas IWC is pure

That's an incredible watch. Congrats!

Quick question, can straps be ordered online or do I have to go to an AD? I'd like to add the blue leather strap for winter use but my AD is an hour away.

I have ordered all directly through IWC online. No discount, but I speak with a lady named Maresela who has been great. She has got me the black, yellow, and orange rubber straps. They always show out of stock online but she has me on a list and calls when they get stock.

I’m going to Radcliffe this morning to pick up a XS gator for my wife’s Panerai and drop off my Superocean Abyss for a factory service…I’ll see if they have any straps in stock.

[brandrea]

Congratulations Mike, really great looking reference

The bracelet/ clasp comment is high praise coming from you

Enjoy it in the best of health

[samson66]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Congratulations Mike, really great looking reference

The bracelet/ clasp comment is high praise coming from you

Enjoy it in the best of health

Thanks Brian

Check out how you remove and resize the bracelet. How great is this! Think of how easy our lives would be if Rolex/Omega did this sort of thing

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by samson66

Thanks Brian



Check out how you remove and resize the bracelet. How great is this! Think of how easy our lives would be if Rolex/Omega did this sort of thing

Holy shi* balls! That's brilliant!

Now you got me interested in yet another brand ... thanks, thanks alot

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[samson66]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Holy shi* balls! That's brilliant!

Now you got me interested in yet another brand ... thanks, thanks alot

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

Ha! Just when you thought you were done spending money on watches

This same thought has occurred to me. The second I sell one I'm right back on the road to buying another

[Reikolexguy]

Originally Posted by samson66

Thanks Brian

Check out how you remove and resize the bracelet. How great is this! Think of how easy our lives would be if Rolex/Omega did this sort of thing

You guys…. I only just bought back my Rolex SD43. Now I want one of these.

I really ought to spend less time on this forum.


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[samson66]

Originally Posted by Reikolexguy

You guys…. I only just bought back my Rolex SD43. Now I want one of these.

I really ought to spend less time on this forum.


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In case you need more convincing...

Check out the micro adjust clasp. 5mm of adjustability.

[GolfJunkie]

Mike, what are those little "tabs" or circles on the first full link?

[samson66]

Originally Posted by GolfJunkie

Mike, what are those little "tabs" or circles on the first full link?

I'm not sure I know what you are referring to? Do you mean the tabs on the clasp under my thumb in the gif? Twin trigger deployant?

Edit: I think you may be talking about the circles on the underside of the links? If so, watch the short video I posted above in post #13

[-dustin]

They really did a solid job with the redesign on these. Fixed every issue I had with my 3777.

[DoricSpiker]

Never been a fan of a bracelet on a pilots watch, always preferred a leather strap or NATO as that’s how pilots would wear the watch. However, the only exception I have is the IWC bracelet! It does look super comfortable and pretty sexy.

I have a 43mm Big pilot on leather but may well pick up the bracelet now after looking at your photos.

Congrats


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[jupiterlight]

Nice looking watch, congratulations buddy.

[GolfJunkie]

Originally Posted by samson66

I'm not sure I know what you are referring to? Do you mean the tabs on the clasp under my thumb in the gif? Twin trigger deployant?

Edit: I think you may be talking about the circles on the underside of the links? If so, watch the short video I posted above in post #13

Yep. That video clears it up. I had no idea that’s how the bracelet was sized.

Very cool

[ZOOK]

Congratulations, I've been considering adding an IWC pilot watch also.

[asiparks]

Congrats on that great watch- and "wow" at the people just discovering IWCs' 30 year old way of easily sizing bracelets...

[samson66]

Originally Posted by asiparks

Congrats on that great watch- and "wow" at the people just discovering IWCs' 30 year old way of easily sizing bracelets...

LOL I have to confess I was completely unaware of it until I became interested in this watch a few months ago. Has that system really been around 30 years? Either way, I absolutely love it. Easiest time I've ever had resizing a bracelet. Between that, the easy change system, and the integrated micro adjust in the clasp, I can see what all the fuss is about with the IWC bracelet. They are expensive for a reason - they're excellent!

[fskywalker]

Congrats Mike !


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[samson66]

Originally Posted by DoricSpiker

Never been a fan of a bracelet on a pilots watch, always preferred a leather strap or NATO as that’s how pilots would wear the watch. However, the only exception I have is the IWC bracelet! It does look super comfortable and pretty sexy.

I have a 43mm Big pilot on leather but may well pick up the bracelet now after looking at your photos.

Congrats


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by jupiterlight

Nice looking watch, congratulations buddy.

Originally Posted by ZOOK

Congratulations, I've been considering adding an IWC pilot watch also.

Originally Posted by asiparks

Congrats on that great watch- and "wow" at the people just discovering IWCs' 30 year old way of easily sizing bracelets...

Originally Posted by fskywalker

Congrats Mike !


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Thank you guys!

[kaiserphoenix]

Congrats! I got the 43mm version but the 41mm was an absolute stunner as well. As you say the bracelet is a real work of art.

[RW16610]

This is a stunning piece, Mike! Such a well engineered bracelet. Congrats!