{"id":4972,"date":"2020-06-20T10:42:36","date_gmt":"2020-06-20T10:42:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/TheWatchClub\/?p=4972"},"modified":"2023-02-24T08:01:28","modified_gmt":"2023-02-24T08:01:28","slug":"iwc-mark-series-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/2020\/06\/20\/iwc-mark-series-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"IWC Mark Series Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
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A Guide to IWC Mark Series<\/strong><\/h1>\n

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It was at the dawn of the 20th century that man’s endeavors in aviation really took flight. The first functional airplanes were built and the first pilots conquered the skies. Along with this development came the birth of wrist and aviation watches as the need for proper navigation grew and pilots could no longer take their bearings from pocket watches.<\/p>\n

One of the first companies to make the watch airworthy was IWC<\/a> (International Watch Co) Schaffhausen. A pilot’s watch not only had to be robust — they also had to be extremely precise, reliable, and legible. With the IWC Mark Series, the company not only answered this need but also started their long tradition of making exemplary pilot’s watches.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Check out the\u00a0IWC Mark Series’ evolution through decades:<\/p>\n

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EARLY MODELS
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IWC Mark IX and Mark X (photos: Antiquorum)<\/em><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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1936 – 1948<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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As pilots spent longer time in the skies, the watches at\u00a0the time proved inadequate in withstanding different\u00a0conditions in the air. Pilots needed their watches to be able to deal with extreme temperatures,\u00a0vibrations, different light conditions, and powerful magnetic fields. IWC brought forward their first ever timepiece designed for aviation purposes in the 1930s.<\/p>\n

Mark IX<\/strong>\u00a0– The originator of the Mark Series was the watch\u00a0named\u00a0Spezialuhr f\u00fcr Flieger\u00a0(Special Pilot\u2019s Watch). The name Mark IX was colloquially derived\u00a0only after the Mark X was \u00a0developed. The hand wound timepiece had a high contrast, luminous markers, and a meticulously tested movement, the Calibre 83.<\/p>\n

Mark X<\/strong>\u00a0–\u00a0The Mark IX\u00a0was replaced by the Mark X, a model developed to stricter specifications. Apart from larger numerals, \u00a0many changes were added within the watch:\u00a0a highly accurate movement for precise time-setting, a Faraday cage to protect against magnetism, and a stainless steel, waterproof case with a screwed ring — to protect the crystal from sudden drops in air pressure.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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The ‘Dirty Dozen’ and IWC Mark X
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In the 1940s, the British Ministry of Defense (MoD) prescribed a set of requirements for military watches. Twelve companies complied with these requirements, among them Omega, Jaeger LeCoultre and IWC; and these\u00a0watches would later become known among collectors as the ‘Dirty Dozen’. It was the Mark X that the MoD\u00a0issued for military service.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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MILITARY AVIATION MODELS (Mark XI – XII – XV)<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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IWC Mark XI Automatic, Mark XII and Mark XV Spitfire Watches<\/em><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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1949 – 2005<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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In 1949, IWC developed its first ever pilot watch – the Mark XI. While the previous models were also used by the military, they were not pilot’s watches but ones built specifically for the British Army. The Mark XI meanwhile, was specifically built to help the Royal Air Force\u00a0navigators during their dead reckoning duties<\/p>\n

Mark XI\u00a0<\/strong>–\u00a0While designed from the outset for the use of RAF navigators, it\u00a0was later on used by pilots as well. It’s characterized by the addition of luminous markers at the 3, 6, 9 and 12 arabic numeral hour markers. It also inherited the water\u00a0and magnetic resistance of its predecessors.<\/p>\n

Mark XII<\/strong>\u00a0– It’s not until 1993 that the Mark Series continued, with the launch of the Mark XII. While this revival\u00a0was virtually a replica of the previous model,\u00a0it\u00a0came the first self-winding movement in the series, hence the “Automatic” text on the dial; and also a date display.<\/p>\n

Mark XV<\/strong> – In 1999, IWC launched the Mark XV, which many consider the Mark Series’ transition from a military watch to a civilian timepiece. It introduced a bigger size (38mm stainless steel case, from 36) and replaced the previous Jaeger LeCoultre movements with an IWC movement.\u00a0The Mark XV also marked the end of the\u00a0traditionally styled Mark model,\u00a0because in 2006, IWC introduced its modernized successor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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IWC Pilot Mark XVIII with custom green strap<\/em><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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CONTEMPORARY MODELS (Mark XVI\u00a0– XVIII)<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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IWC Pilot Mark XVII and XVIII Watches<\/em><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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2006 – Present<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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IWC decided to revamp the Mark Series by giving them a more unified look.<\/p>\n

Mark XVI<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>– The case size grew to 39mm, the 6 and 9 numerals were dropped from the dial. The Arabic numerals took on a more modern and elongated look and the hands were replaced by broader Flieger hands from the IWC Big Pilot line.<\/p>\n

Mark XVII<\/strong>\u00a0– The case size grew further to 41mm, a distinctive vertical date display was added at 3 o’clock, and a newly developed steel bracelet with a fine adjustment clasp was added.<\/p>\n

Mark XVIII\u00a0<\/strong>– Bucking the trend, the case size was reduced to 40mm, the single digit date window also returned at 3 o’clock in a played down design; while the hour markers for 6 and 9 were added back to the watch face. This resulted in a more symmetrical dial and a design that’s reduced to only the essentials.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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____<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

SEE MORE OF THE WATCHES IN OUR VIDEO:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

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