More news on new Pilot Collection, Annual Calendar and Single date, models, changes and ref numbers

Picked it up from Monochrome watches , so it may not be complete. Please add / correct if you can.

SIHH 2016 (starting Monday 18th January), but here are some first info about what to expect:
•IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Annual Calendar Edition “Le Petit Prince” (Ref. IW502701): a pilot oriented edition mixing the usual blue dial with the annual calendar seen last year on the Portugieser.
•IWC Pilot’s Watch Automatic 36 (Ref. 3240), the smallest and 3-hand edition of the Pilot’s collection.
•IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII (Ref. IW327001 / IW327002 / IW327011), the entry-level watch now comes with a 40mm case (1mm smaller than the previous Mark XVII) and gets rid off the the triple date display, for a cleaner look, closer to the original Mark XI. Available on calf-skin or metallic bracelet.
•IWC Big Pilot’s Watch (Ref. IW500912) and IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph (Ref. IW377709/IW377710): cleaner dials with triangle under the 12 index (other details to be confirmed).
•IWC Big Pilot’s Watch TOP GUN (Ref. IW502001): now 46mm, no more red plane-shaped second hand and new strap.
•IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar TOP GUN (Ref. IW502902): no modification except the strap.
•IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN (Ref. IW389001): the triple date display was abandoned and the ceramic case reduced from 46 to 44 millimeters. New movement (calibre 89361) with minutes and hours on the 12 sub-dial.
•IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN Miramar (Ref. IW389002): case reduced to 44mm and simple date window (no triple date anymore).
•IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Spitfire (Ref. IW500917): red gold case reworked dial (with triangle under the 12 index)
•IWC Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Digital (Ref. IW379108): new member, with the same movement as this Portugieser.
•IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Spitfire (Ref. IW377719): new simple date (no more triple date window) and optional stainless steel bracelet

If anyone finds pictures, Moderator ?, please add them here.

Probably moderator will delete this post ;-)

Haha, those were the days... I guess the policy is a bit more liberal right now. The news makes sense, a bit smaller watches and single date windows. I am looking forward to seeing them, like the new Mark XVIII.

Kind regards,
Paul

But yesterday he deleted quite a few (probably with pics).

Yes, Tilo, I saw that but wasn't quick enough - went back to check the links and they were gone. The plumber got on those leaks pretty quickly, although only content can be removed. Titles, such as "New Steel Single Moon Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar Saint Exupery" still remain.

If the news is out there on commercial sites , why cant it be published here ?
Is it policy to inform the collectors community last ?
Maybe the pictures deleted on this forum were placed there to early by IWC themselves and deleted not to break prior rights promised to such commercial sites ?
I also found the breaking news nicely devided geographically, one new model in Asia, one in Europe etc. So it is a well designed marketing strategy by IWC to release a little every couple days in different media in different parts of the world.
And not to be disturbed by eager forum collectors. Which makes the hunt for new data and pictures even more fun !

This happens most years. IWC issues embargoed releases to various magazines and websites so publication of the articles about the novelties can co-incide with SIHH. Unfortunately, the Muppets who work for the publications refuse to honour the terms of the embargo. You can't blame IWC's Marketing Department for honouring the terms of its own embargo. It's frustrating but it's all part of the game.

Yes, and the game works both ways. Reality is that there are leaks, and my guess is they will be there every year. As loyal member of this forum I will not write about the novelties, but of course I saw them elsewhere, so who is kidding who?

Kind regards,
Paul