Article by B. Walker – bwalker@shrevecrumpandlow.com
IWC has been releasing some incredible new Pilot’s watch references over the years. This new addition to the Big Pilot family in particular is especially unique. This new reference IW501005 is IWC’s first Bronze pilot’s watch and limited to only 1,500 pieces globally. 
The blued steel hands and vintage creme colored lume pay hommage to the original IWC Pilot’s watches worn throughout WW2 by the German Airforce.
This bronze version is powered by the same cal. 52110 automatic seven-day power reserve movement that is in the current production stock Big Pilot. The case has a titanium back engraved with the serial number and special edition inscription, (note this piece is non-specific limited edition) as well as a soft iron inner cage to protect the movement from magnetism. As of today’s date 2/13/2018 Shreve, Crump & Low currently has one of these Bronze Heritage Big Pilot’s for sale MSRP $13,200.00 USD
It important note that unlike other bronze references from IWC such as the Bronze Aquatimer Chrono tribute to Charles Darwin which has a fine brushed finish as seen in image below the IWC Big Pilot has a high-finished polish.
This high-polished bronze-chrome like finish gives the piece an immediate appearance of high-polished gold. See some live shots below from a collector’s instagram.
The watch may look shiny and new out of the box, but no one really knows how the bronze metal will age/patina down the road. That is part of the personal journey of owning one of these pieces, it oxidizes by the way you wear the watch, where you go with the watch, and what you do with the watch. Over the years different types of bronze alloys will age differently, an extreme example is the below image of a Panerai Bronzo (the original modern day Bronze timepiece) the PAM00382, which was released in 2010, and has just turned 8 years old. (it is highly likely this piece has been artificially enhanced in a salt bath to a collector’s desired patina).
The American Jeweler 