IWC x Hodinkee Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Edition

There have been some fantastic timepieces to emerge from collaboration projects but none better than those between luxury watchmakers and leading luxury watch magazine, Hodinkee, and the latest to have caught our eye here at Coolector HQ is that of the IWC x Hodinkee Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Edition which is dapperness personified. One of Switzerland’s most respected watchmakers have hit the high notes once again with this collaboration with Hodinkee and with a price tag of $6400 it represents a first class investment for the watch collector out there.

This superbly stylish IWC x Hodinkee Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Edition ($6400) has been some two years in the making and it’s time well spent because the two brands have combined the best of vintage and modern IWC to deliver the ultimate Pilot’s Watch in this limited edition release of just 500 pieces. IWC Schaffhausen is a brand known for its functional, eye-catching tool watches, and in particular its Pilot’s Watches and this collaboration with Hodinkee is already flying off the shelves.

Based on Iconic Designs

The IWC x Hodinkee Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Edition saw the timepiece magazine turn to some of the most iconic IWC pilot’s watches of years gone by – most notably the Mark 11 and the reference 3705 Fliegerchronograph – to marry with the contemporary Mark XVIII to provide the versatile, well-sized limited edition watch that you see today. The Mark 11 was first launched in 1948 and quickly became a classic courtesy of its clean lines and restrained, functional design. Its anti-magnetic soft iron inner shield and use of the reliable caliber 89 movement further solidified the Mark 11’s reliability, and it stayed in production through the mid-1980s.

Moving things forward considerably, the IWC x Hodinkee Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Edition combines the best of these two iconic IWC pilot’s watches and combines them with the current production Mark XVIII. The dial of this limited edition watch is a knowing nod to vintage IWC; the minimalistic design with painted white Arabic numerals and lumed stick indexes at three, six, and nine – and of course, that characteristic arrow at 12 o’clock (which are also luminous) – are reminiscent of those original tool watches of yesteryear.

The 39mm case, is crafted entirely of Ceratanium®, which is a proprietary material IWC Schaffhausen has developed over the course of five years. Ceratanium® starts out as a unique titanium alloy containing zirconium oxide and, when heated, the zirconium oxide hardens into ceramic distributed throughout the metal itself. The colour turns matte black, and the end result is a watch which is lightweight like titanium, but with the scratch resistance and durability of ceramic i.e. the best of both worlds rolled into one.

Devilish Details

The no-date automatic IWC caliber 35100 powers the Mark XVIII Edition “HODINKEE,” and the caseback boasts pared back engravings which includes the limited edition number out of 500 pieces. The watch comes on a robust olive green embossed calfskin strap with a Ceratanium® pin buckle and looks great on the wrist.

Some of the stand out components of the IWC x Hodinkee Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Edition include SuperLuminova handset, 3-6-9-12 stick indexes, and arrow at 12 o’clock, 60m water resistance, IWC caliber 35100 automatic movement, 42 hour power reserve and scratch resistant sapphire crystal glass. With the price tag of $6400, this cracking timepiece doesn’t come cheap but will form the cornerstone of any watch collection.