IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Edition “HODINKEE”
Our friends over at Hodinkee have something cool to offer today: an IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Edition “HODINKEE”. A limited edition timepiece that IWC did together with the team at Hodinkee, based on the famous Pilot’s watches from 1948 and onwards. Inspired by the old, but definitely using some pretty cool innovation: a case made of Ceratanium, an alloy that is as light as titanium and as scratch-resistant as ceramic.
IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Edition “HODINKEE”
Limited to 500 pieces only, this IWC Mark XVIII Edition “Hodinkee” will tick a lot of boxes for collectors of cool watches. What about a 39mm case (not too big, not too small), a dial without a date aperture and the aforementioned Ceratanium case, resulting in a matte black color. Even the pin buckle is made of this material, as well as the crown and caseback. On that caseback, you will have a unique number of the watch engraved
Inside, you will find IWC’s caliber 35100 movement, based on a Sellita self-winding movement. It has 42 hours of power reserve and ticks at 28,800vph.
This IWC Mark XVIII Edition “Hodinkee” reference IW324801 has a simple yet awesome looking black dial, with Arabic numerals and faux-patina luminous markers and hands. The strap that comes with this watch is a green embossed calfskin with a pin buckle.
Hodinkee would not be Hodinkee if there’s not more to it. On their dedicated page for this watch, they write about reference 3705 from the mid-1990s. A chronograph Flieger watch that was launched in 1994 and available in ceramic. It is nicely sought-after collector’s item and with their own Mark XVIII Edition “Hodinkee” they wanted to create the same look & feel of that special 3705.
On the picture on the right, you see the ceramic IWC Pilot’s Chronograph reference 3705 that was auctioned by Phillips (picture is also used from their auction catalogue). Compared to the IWC Mark XVIII Edition “Hodinkee”, the hands, markers and Arabic numerals, as well as the case colour, are indeed corresponding.
That watch, only 999 pieces produced, has been wonderfully described in this article and was recently auctioned (November 2018) for $53,750.= USD. Aside from the financial result, this watch also belonged to IWC (and Lange’s) boss Günter Blümlein’s favourite pieces. So much so, that he also purchased one for his wife to wear. In my honest opinion, I think that – aside from the fact that the 3705 is a chronograph – Hodinkee did a very nice tribute to both the original Mark series and this ceramic chrono from 1994.
Without wanting to offend the IWC design team, I think that without Hodinkee they wouldn’t have come up with something like this. It is ‘under the radar’ cool and that’s not something IWC is generally after, but Hodinkee is. If this watch is too ‘underground’ for you but love the case material and properties, let us suggest to take a look at the new Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph TOP GUN Ceratanium that IWC introduced last month. Perhaps that one ticks your boxes.
IWC Pilot’s Double Chronograph IW371815 in Ceratanium
Hodinkee did a very cool write-up about their new limited edition together with IWC, so make sure to give that a read.
The IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Edition “HODINKEE” can be ordered as of now, via the Hodinkee shop. The price is $6,400.= USD. Click here to visit their online boutique.
