Is there a new Top Gun ?

Last Friday (12 Aug) on the IWC Facebook page, there was a post about the Laureus Tortour team, with their "new IWC Pilot`s Chronograph Edition Top Gun"

Is this a new version of the Top Gun?

It looked like the Top Gun Single Chrono 378901 to me, and I noticed what u mentioned too, but interpreted it as they were presented a "new watch" that they didn't have before. Michael has confirmed last week that 378901 is discontinued, so if it is a new one, that would be very interesting !
Ttop

It doesn't look like the nylon strap on those watches. And the Single is discontinued....

I read somewhere a while back that the TopGun series was a 3 watch series, and to date there have been 2 so we would be expecting the 3rd sometime soon, but the ones being handed out in the article look like the current 3799 . . .

Anyone else seen any info re a 3 watch series for the TopGuns? I thought I read it on one of the older catalogues but cant find a reference at present.

Cheers,

Ben

Hmmm, interesting stuff. If you include the Carlson Top Gun then it would be three.

On the watch in the cycling pics on facebook, I think the cyclists could have been wearing a rubber strap when showing it off, or a different watch altogether during the race. I have spotted a plastiki Ing, and perhaps a couple of Polars.

Hi Shing,

Am exposing my flanks here, but the Carlson is not a TopGun is it? It is a ceramic double chrono like the 3799, but not a TopGun - it doesnt have any of the TopGun markings (side or back).

Cheers,

ben

Yes Ben - I think u are right - Carlson is not a Top Gun edition ! Thanks for correcting me I too casually made the connection (and I think some retailers do too), given its reference 379904.

Well, not to confuse things but, my Carlson blue dial came with the Top Gun instruction manual.

even more interesting ! there is not a day that doesn't go by that something is learnt here. thanks for letting us/me know Alan.

Hi All,

Here is a scan of the article that I refer to regarding the TopGun series being a 3 watch series. It is a scan from the 8th edition or Watches International (note the plural, not Watch International) published in 2007.

The article refers to 3 watches, 1 per year, with the 3799 Doppel Chrono as being the first of the series in 2007, followed by the 3789 single chrono in 2008 and finally the Top Gun Mark XVI in 2009 . . . . Anyone able to shed any light on the last one?

Regards,

Ben

Hmmm. Thanks Ben for sharing the article+pics within. I'm sure generally the article is accurate, but the last paragraph pertaining to a Top Gun Mark XVI circa 2009 befuddles me. I don't think there's such an edition, and I think if there were, LOL, this forum would be a-flood with comments. Doesn't help the writer that he/she declared a IWC Pilots Watch Double Chorine Edition Top Gun in the paragraph 5th from bottom, lol.

To the best of my knowledge thus far there are three TGs: 378901 single chrono, 379901 double chrono, 379904 Carlson.

Now all that having been said, perhaps there was one in the works, based on an earlier discussion, which our moderator Michael has taken pains to emphasize in that thread that the image shown was a rendering and was ultimately a design not selected for production. the size, thinness and the sweeping center second hand with red accent looks to me like a Mark series-Top Gun combo. But I think all this now resides in IWC folklore.

Hi Shing,

I did notice that error in the article and wondered how a spell check could do that substitution.

Regarding the Carlson 379904 - I am on the fence as to wether it is a TopGun or not. Actually, as a TopGun owner, I think I am dead against the 379904 being referred to as a TopGun - sorry Shing, Alan, and the other 48 odd Carlson owners out there :)

If you were to call the 379904 a TopGun then you would also have to call the 379903 Zegg & Cerlati a TopGun.

The "TopGun" manual is a "3799" manual (It does also say TopGun on the cover and inside) so technically it applies to the 379901, 379903 and 379904 however the 379901 and 378901 with the TopGun logo's and Fighter Jet hands are the only true TopGun's that I am aware of.

To call the 379903 and 379904 of which there were only a total of 80 watches made combined (There are more Grand Complications out there) a TopGun I think is to devalue a truly limited edition watch - they are both Limited Edition (in the true sense) Ceramic, Doppel Chrono Pilots watches and I for one would like to have either one in my collection :)

Cheers,

Ben

You've conveyed a good perspective Ben, regardless whether "true per IWC's manufacturing intention" or not - something which maybe we will never be able to discover, but hopefully we do :) !

On reflection, I tend to agree with u: whether its a Top Gun edition should turn on whether there is the fighter plane and red accent hands, which I believe coincides with the existence of the Top Gun logo stamp on the back.

A ceramic or titanium Mark XVI would be a great platform to put a Top Gun case back and a little red plane on the second hand ............ Only "thinking" out loud of course.

Thanks Michael for confirming.

Hi All,
Very interested to read all your comments considering that I am debating whether to purchase a Carlson 379904. My question is:
I am debating between the purchase of the Limited Edition of 1000 3786 (black face) & the 3799 (LE of 50, blue face). My preference is for the 3799 however, I have a question regarding the case for the 3799.
Can anyone advise me whether the Carlson edition has the complete ceramic case like the 3786 Doppel Chrono? It is not clear from my research as to whether it has the "Top Gun" case which uses the cheaper injection moulding process.
Many thanks.
Charlie

Here is?