This year?marks the 80th anniversary of the IWC Pilots Watch as well as the lines revamping for SIHH 2016, and the brand seems intent on tapping into its quite?illustrious history. The new IWC Big Pilots Watch is not getting any major redesign, but there are several aesthetic changes that overall work well and succeed in tapping into said history. Youve also got the new IWC Pilots Watch Chronograph, which has some design?changes of its own being made to freshen up the look by, somewhat ironically, looking to the past for visual?cues.The new IWC Big Pilots Watch (Ref. IW500912) sees the return of the triangular index back below the chapter ring at 12 oclock. A simple move by the brand, but I personally think that this looks a lot cleaner than having the triangle wedged up top (I always thought it looked like someone squeezing into a seat on?a crowded train that cant quite fully accommodate them). The 9 also returns, which I like rather than a unnumbered hour marker. If you look carefully, youll notice the numerals are bolder than the old model and the five minute markers are narrower. What hasnt changed is the power reserve dial and the date window at 6 oclock. As with the new Pilot Watches, there is a Santoni calfskin strap on this watch, this one in black. In terms of the movement, it is unchanged and the IWC Big Pilot Watch still uses the automatic 51111 Calibre, operating at 3 Hz and providing 7 days power reserve. Also unchanged, unlike many new Pilot Watches, are the case dimensions which are still 46mm wide and 16mm high. The watch is water resistant to 60 meters.As for the IWC Pilots Watch Chronograph (Ref. IW377709 and Ref. IW377710), the most obvious change is one thats affected much of the?Pilot Watch line the removal of the triple date window. The seemingly superfluous design element is now replaced with a more-classic looking single day and date window. Also gone are the small 5-minute indicators on the outer chapter ring which always looked a bit awkward and cluttered.The movement and case are unchanged, with the automatic 79320 Calibre. It?operates at 4Hz and will provide 44 hours of power reserve. The stainless steel case is still 43mm wide (IWC always makes their chronographs smaller than non-chronographs) and 15mm high, providing 60 meters of water resistance. For the IWC Big Pilot Watch Ref. IW500912 price is $12,900. The IWC Pilots Watch Chronograph comes on either a Santoni calfskin strap (Ref. IW377709) with a price of $4,950?or on a stainless steel bracelet (Ref. 377710) with a price of $5,950. iwc.com [...]