History of the IWC International Watch & Co Schaffhausen Military Pilot Watch Series "Mark"

On behalf of the British Royal Air Force

The history of the IWC Pilot's Watch Mark series is exciting and dates back to 1948. Back then, IWC manufactured the first model in the series – the 36 mm Mark 11 – on behalf of the British Royal Air Force as a robust and functional three-hand watch for pilots.

The Pilot's Watch Mark has always been characterized by excellent readability thanks to luminous Arabic numerals and high magnetic field protection. The latter is ensured by a soft iron inner case.

IWC manufactured the Mark 11 with various modifications for military use until the early 1980s.

The Pilot's Watch Mark 11 quickly became a sought-after collector's item among watch enthusiasts, prompting IWC to develop new watches in the series for the civilian market.

The first commercial model appeared in 1994 under the name Mark XII and was very similar to its predecessor in terms of size and design. For 30 years now, timepieces from the Pilot's Watch Mark series have been an integral part of the IWC product catalog under various names.

Over the past decades, numerous versions of the watch have appeared, which differ in case size and design but are immediately recognizable as an IWC Pilot's Watch Mark.

The Pilot's Watch Mark XX has been available since 2023. IWC offers a range of models with a case diameter of 40 mm, which you can purchase in various dial colors and strap combinations.

In terms of calibers, IWC used Jaeger-LeCoultre calibers for the Mark 11 and the Mark XII, which was offered until 1999.

Later versions, such as the Mark XV, were equipped with movements produced by the Swiss movement manufacturer ETA and modified according to the manufacturer's specifications. Current models are equipped with automatic IWC manufacture calibers.