Swiss Watches
The new IWC Montre d’Aviateur Chronographe Edition Patrouille Suisse (Ref. 3717) limited edition pilot’s watch was issued to support the famous aerobatics team of the Swiss Air Force that was formed in 1964 and changed its paint scheme exactly 20 years ago to incorporate the red and white colors of the Swiss flag. A kind of anniversary, okay.
Did you know that, although neutral, the Swiss Confederation was one of the most militarized countries in Europe?
With a population of around 7.8 million of people (only around 6.1 million of them are of Swiss nationality,) the small alpine country has formidable armed forces of 200,000 personnel (120,000 of them on active duty) and just eight years ago the army was halved in a major cost cutting effort!
The Swiss Air Force, however, is not that impressive consisting mainly of obsolete fighter jets and helicopters (including the Eurocopter AS532 Cougar that another Swiss watchmaker paid homage to recently with its Victorinox Swiss Army Alpnach automatic chronograph watch.)
The best that they can offer is around three dozens of F-18 Hornets and 54 F-5 Tiger II.
Of the latter, at least six are employed by the famous Patrouille Suisse military aerobatics team.
To support the team of elite pilots, the Swiss watchmaker International Watch Company has presented a new special edition IWC Montre d’Aviateur Chronographe Edition Patrouille Suisse model.
Limited at only 300 pieces, the watch differs from the other members of the family only with its color scheme and with the shape of the counter tip on the central chronograph hand. The latter is formed to resemble the Northrop F-5E Tiger II as seen from above (or, rather, from the ground.)
By the way, the numerals and hour markers on the timekeeper’s dial are not just printed with white paint, but are covered with a high-quality luminous substance, so the watch will offer you an almost unrivaled readability in twilight.
Powered by the usual IWC caliber 79320 self-winding movement that is based on the ETA Valjoux 7750 ebauche with hacking seconds function, the watch offers the usual functionality.
Too bad that the caliber cannot be seen: the watch comes fitted with a solid case-back cover engraved with the Patrouille Suisse logo.
There is a pair of chronograph sub-dials at 6 and 12 o’clock, a subsidiary seconds indicator at 9 hours and the extended calendar display at 3 o’clock showing current day and date.
The calendar function is rather simple, so you will have to correct its readings at least five times a year: on months that are shorter than 31 days.
The watch is operated with a pair of chronograph pushers and a setting/winding crown that, for some unknown reason, are done in mirror-polished steel that looks somewhat awkward in combination with satin-finished stainless steel of the case.
It must also be noted that, while modest 42 millimeters in diameter, the case is rather thick with a total height just shy of 15 millimeters. I can’t call these proportions “gargantuan,” but just bear in mind that the watch may not look really good if you plan to wear it with business attire.
P.S. By the way, if you still want to support the Swiss aerobatics team, but are not particularly fond with the design of the Montre d’Aviateur, you may try an even more vintage styled Oris Swiss Hunter Team PS (Patrouille-Suisse) Edition model.
See also: IWC UTC Edition Antoine de Saint Exupery limited edition watch
Photos: IWC
IWC Montre d’Aviateur Chronographe Edition Patrouille Suisse (Ref. 3717) automatic pilot’s watch specification
Price: 6200 CHF (MSRP)
Movement: Automatic, IWC caliber 79320, based on ETA Valjoux 7750 ebauche, Swiss Made
Movement decoration: No data
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, day of week, chronograph
Power reserve: 44 hours
Case material: Stainless steel
Bezel material: Stainless steel
Crown material: Stainless steel
Case shape: Round
Bezel shape: Round
Case size: 42.00 mm
Lug width: No data
Case height: 14.70 mm
Dial: Grey
Numerals: Arabic
Hour markers: Luminous
Hands: Luminous
Water resistance: 60 meters
Strap: Dark grey textile “NATO” strap with grey stitching and a stainless steel pin buckle
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective on both sides
Case back: Solid, engraved with Patrouille Suisse logo