About This Watch: The IWC Big Pilot Reference 5002 is the first edition of the iconic Big Pilot series watches. Its design is based on a navigation watch that was introduced in 1940, the IWC ref. 431/Type 52 T.S.C., which utilized a modified pocket watch movement and was produced for military pilots of the era. With its signature, large “onion” type crown, 46 mm case size, and 7-day power reserve indicator on the dial, the Big Pilot Ref 5002 was only in production for a few years before receiving an update to the Ref 5004. The History: Founded in 1868 by an American watchmaking pioneer, Florentine Ariosto Jones, the International Watch Company launched in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. Nestled on the banks of the Rhine River, IWC’s factory began its pursuit of manufacturing watches of the highest quality, utilizing modern technology and some of Switzerland’s most talented watchmakers.The Watch: The Big Pilot Ref 5002 has a 46mm stainless steel case and a sapphire crystal. The black dial has lumed hour markers, hour, minute hands, a lumed 7-day power indicator hand, and a lumed IWC triangle with two dots. The Ref 5002 also has a soft iron inner case to protect against magnetic fields. Powered by a Calibre 5011 automatic movement, the Big Pilot Ref 5002 features a 7-day power reserve and a water resistance rating of 60 meters. The Details: This IWC Big Pilot Ref 5002 shows some wear on the case and bezel, which is consistent with a timepiece of this age and visible in the photographs. This timepiece received a full service from IWC in 2020. It comes with an IWC brown leather strap with a deployant clasp.
