Fratello’s Top 5 Alternatives To The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch

Another Friday, another list. This week, we shift the focus from regatta timers to pilot’s watches. To be more specific, we are looking for five alternatives to the classic IWC Big Pilot’s Watch. Do you remember when IWC’s famous oversized aviation classic was all the rage? In the early 2000s, during the era of big watches, it was one of the industry’s leading models. Times have certainly changed over the past two decades, which raises an important question: Would you still buy this oversized pilot’s watch? If not, today, we’ll look at five alternatives to this classic that could be your pick.

If you were a watch enthusiast in the early 2000s, you probably remember the big-watch trend. Brands like Panerai, Breitling, and IWC were leading the charge with their famous creations. When IWC released the Big Pilot ref. 5002 in 2002, it quickly became one of the most popular watches. Almost 25 years later, it is still one of IWC’s most famous classics. But the world has changed, and people generally gravitate towards smaller watches. So we created a list of five alternatives that could be perfect if you want something other than the 46mm IWC Big Pilot’s Watch. We looked for smaller watches that offer a similar classic aviation style, regardless of budget or brand. Let’s find out what our five picks are.

IWC Big Pilot’s Watch 43

A great first option is the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch 43. This smaller version of the classic 46mm model would be a logical alternative in today’s watch landscape. As Thomas explained, the watch keeps the same iconic look but is much easier to wear. IWC first introduced the smaller Big Pilot in 2021 to bridge the gap between the 40mm Mark XX and the 46mm Big Pilot, and it did the job perfectly.

The watch has a 43mm stainless steel case with a 53mm lug-to-lug and a 13.6mm profile. Compared to its 46 × 56 × 15.6mm bigger brother, the main advantages are the length and thickness. These two factors make the watch much more wearable while maintaining its signature look.

Inside the case, you will find IWC’s in-house caliber 82100. This automatic 22-jewel movement operates at 28,800 vph and offers a 60-hour power reserve. You can see this modern powertrain through the sapphire display in the case back, which adds to the overall impact. It is beautifully finished and, notably, eschews the power reserve indicator. As a result, you not only get a smaller, more wearable version of the Big Pilot, but it also sports a cleaner overall look. Lastly, at €9,700 on a strap, the Big Pilot’s Watch 43 is more affordable than its 46mm €14,200 counterpart.

Zenith Pilot Automatic

Our next pick is another watch that immediately came to mind when we first started discussing this week’s list of alternatives. Zenith first introduced its current Pilot collection during Watches and Wonders three years ago. We have seen steel and ceramic variations of the two available models, but the lineup is still limited to the Pilot Big Date Flyback and the Pilot Automatic. We picked the latter in steel for this list. The watch features a 40mm case with a 49.6mm length and 12.9mm thickness. Considering its modest diameter, it stands out on the wrist due to its long lugs.

The case is paired with a dial featuring horizontal grooves, applied Arabic numerals, a date window at 6 o’clock, and high-contrast sword hands. As Brandon explained in his introductory article, Zenith stated in the press materials that the pattern “mimics the look of corrugated metal sheets that make up the fuselage of many older aircraft.” Zenith offers the stainless steel version with either a black opaline or dark blue dial. Proudly present on the lower half of the dial is the “Pilot” moniker that only Zenith can use on its dials.

Inside the case, the brand uses its in-house El Primero 3620. This automatic caliber ticks at 36,000 vph, has 27 jewels, and offers a 60-hour power reserve. Thanks to the sapphire display in the case back, you will be able to see the modern (non-chronograph) El Primero caliber in action. The neat yet straightforward finishing of this movement matches the tool-watch vibe perfectly. A fun detail is the white design on the skeletonized rotor. It mimics the famous “artificial horizon” instrument in aircraft.

Finishing the look are two straps that come with each watch. The first is a Cordura-like rubber strap matching the dial color, and the second is a brown calfskin strap. The stainless steel Big Pilot’s Watch 43 is our perfect second option, retailing for €8,500.

Longines Pilot Majetek

Longines also has a rich history in aviation timepieces. In 2023, the brand introduced the Pilot Majetek, a modern remake of the Longines Majetek ref. 3582 from 1935. Currently, Longines offers the watch in three versions. The first two are the regular “1935” model with different straps that Robert-Jan reviewed. The third model is the lightweight Pioneer Edition, limited to 1,935 pieces. As you will understand, our pick is the steel version as it is the fitting alternative to the Big Pilot.

As Robert-Jan explained in his review, the Pilot Majetek was modeled after the original watch commissioned by the Czechoslovak Air Force. The specific request was to develop a watch with ample lume for readability and a rotating bezel with a triangular marker to indicate a starting time. On April 1st, 1935, Longines registered the new design at the IPO office in Bern. After that, the watches were handed out to Czechoslovak pilots and featured the words “Majetek Vojenské Správy” (“Property of the Military Administration”) on the case back.

The modern remake of this classic timepiece features a 43 × 51.4 × 13.3mm case. It features a knurled bidirectional bezel that moves the triangular marker around the dial. On top of that, the designers added crown guards for a more modern look.

The case is paired with a black dial featuring raised vintage-inspired Arabic numerals and large pencil-style hands filled with Super-LumiNova. Powering the watch is the brand’s chronometer-certified caliber L893.6. The automatic movement runs at 25,200 vph and delivers a 72-hour power reserve. You can get the stainless steel Longines Pilot Majetek with either a brown or green leather strap for €4,150.

Laco Pilot Watch Original Saarbrücken

A list like this would not be complete without at least one watch from the classic German brands like Stowa, Tutima, and Laco. This time, we picked the Laco Pilot Watch Original, which sports the classic look that also inspired the design of the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch. The question is which of the available size options best suits your wrist. Laco offers the Pilot Watch Original in 39mm, 42mm, and 45mm cases.

On top of that, you can pick either a manual-winding or an automatic caliber. Lastly, the watch is available with two dial designs. We picked the classic “Baumuster A” design with Arabic numerals for the hours and a peripheral minute track that most closely resembles the Big Pilot. To stay as close as possible to the 46mm Big Pilot, we picked the automatic Saarbrücken version, which Laco named after a German city near the French border.

The watch features a 45mm matte sandblasted stainless steel case with a 53.5mm lug-to-lug and 13.5mm profile. Consequently, it is a big watch, but it’s slimmer than the IWC. The case is matched with a black dial featuring 11 Arabic numerals and the signature “Flieger” triangle with two dots at 12 o’clock. Finishing the look is a 22mm brown calfskin strap with rivets, as seen on the Big Pilot as well. Inside the case, you will find the Laco 200 caliber based on the Sellita SW200-1. This 26-jewel automatic movement beats at 28,800 vph and offers a 41-hour power reserve. It is a perfectly reliable powertrain for this Laco Saarbrücken, which retails at €1,130.

Sinn 104

Our last pick is the popular Sinn 104. While not the most obvious choice among the plethora of German pilot’s watches, it is one of the most popular affordable picks among watch enthusiasts. The 104 has a 41 × 47 × 11.9mm stainless steel case topped with a rotatable 60-minute countdown bezel.

Sinn offers the watch with two dial designs. The first is the 104 St Sa A, which features a black backdrop with a full set of Arabic numerals. Stylistically, this would be the closest pick to the IWC. In the pictures here, however, you’ll see the 104 St Sa I that we had in the office. This version replaces the numerals with rectangular hour markers.

On top of that, the dial features a day-date complication at 3 o’clock and a classically styled syringe handset. The standard strap option is a dark brown vintage-look leather strap that makes it a proper pilot’s watch in the classic style of the Big Pilot. However, as most of you will know, Sinn offers a wide variety of options, including the stainless steel H-link bracelet you see in these pictures.

Inside the case, Sinn equips the 104 with the Sellita SW220-1 caliber. Like the SW200 in the Laco Saarbrücken, this 26-jewel automatic movement operates at 28,800 vph and has a 41-hour power reserve.

The Sinn 104 St Sa A, which is stylistically closest to the Big Pilot due to the dial’s Arabic numerals and the dark brown vintage leather strap, costs €1,490. The version in the pictures on the stainless steel bracelet retails at €1,840. Whichever version you prefer, the Sinn 104 is a solid pick for a classic pilot’s watch and the perfect watch to close out this list.

Final thoughts on the top five IWC Big Pilot’s Watch alternatives

There you have it — five alternatives to the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch. As mentioned, we took the liberty of choosing alternatives from different brands across various price brackets. There are undoubtedly more great options, so I want to turn the question to you. Which of these five options do you like the best, or would you go for a different option altogether? Let us know in the comments section, and we’ll be back next week with another list!