Soaring to New Heights: IWC Introduces Miramar Edition of its Iconic Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41

2025 will usher in a wind of change for IWC as it expands its Colors of Top Gun series with the introduction of a new shade of blue, Miramar. This new hue will make its debut on two Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 models, adding to the brand’s ever-growing portfolio of ceramic colors. The Miramar color is inspired by the light blue shirts worn by instructors at the Naval Air Station Miramar, the original location of the Navy Fighter Weapons School, affectionately known as Top Gun. In collaboration with Pantone, IWC created a specific shade of pale blue that stands out as softer and more lighthearted than its other Top Gun colors, offering fewer military undertones.

Equally noteworthy is the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Top Gun Miramar (ref. IW389409), a pale blue version of the ceramic-cased Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Mojave Desert. This model inherits the Miramar blue dial and strap, albeit its hands are finished in blue and its buckle is crafted from titanium. The ceramic cases of these Top Gun models measure 41.9mm in diameter by 15.5mm, offering additional protection against magnetism through soft-iron inner shields in solid screw-down casebacks, replacing the display casebacks found in the stainless steel models.

According to IWC’s official site, the stainless steel Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 is powered by the Caliber 69385 automatic movement, while the ceramic Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Top Gun Miramar runs on the Caliber 69380. Despite these technical differences, the column-wheel operated chronograph movements featuring a 33-jewel design and a power reserve of approximately 46 hours appear to be virtually identical. Adopting IWC’s EasX-CHANGE system, these models allow speedy strap exchanges using a standard spring bar between the lugs integrated with a button-operated quick-change system.