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One of the very first watches that I reviewed for Worn & Wound was the Archimede Pilot Chronograph Trikompax, a big, burly pilot’s watch made from German steel. In that review I commented on how the pilot’s watch is such a no-nonsense and simple tool watch idea, that it’s almost absurd to spend significant money on a watch in this genre that lands in the luxury segment. From the review:
This is a style of watch that is so straightforward, I’ve always found it difficult to justify paying IWC prices for a design that is shared by so many small brands who happen to do it quite well. If you just want the look there are many, many options at almost any price point.
You know what? I stand by that. At least to an extent. If what you’re after is a proper tool, there are a lot of watches made by the likes of Archimede, Hamilton, Laco and others that do a great job of getting into that shearling bomber jacket with Ray-Bans kind of aesthetic. What I realize now after spending quite a bit of time wearing the new IWC Big Pilot 43 is that this isn’t really a tool watch. I mean, it is in the sense that it’s built like a tank and seems conceived to do a very specific job, but what it really is is a statement watch, more similar to the Rolex Submariner or Cartier Tank in its overarching philosophy than the Archimede I reviewed all those months, and watches, ago. What surprised me about the BP 43 wasn’t its quality, though. I knew it would be a well made, nice thing. The thing that continues to surprise me is just how much I liked the brashness of it. Because, when it comes down to it, I’m not really a very brash guy.
Anyway, it’s a little complicated. Let me try to explain.
