IWC’s popular, oversized pilot’s watch is already available in as many variations as the sky is high, but the latest limited edition – the Big Pilot’s Watch “Right-Hander” – is the first that’s a “destro”. Italian for “right”, destro is a nickname often applies to watches with a left-handed crown, and thus catered to right-handed people.

Because the onion-shaped crown sits at nine o’clock instead of the usual three, the movement inside has been rotated 180 degrees, bringing the power reserve indicator to nine o’clock as well.

For those wondering if this is inspired by a historical, “destro” pilot’s watch, the answer is no. This is just a reinterpretation of a bestselling model.

Crown-aside, the look is pretty much stock Big Pilot. The dial is a dark grey, with luminous markings and hands in white SuperLuminova.

The rest of the watch is identical to the standard model. The steel case is 46.2mm in diameter, with automatic cal. 52010 inside. It’s the second generation of the flagship IWC automatic movement, featuring a seven-day power reserve and a Pellaton winding mechanism with its pawls and winding wheels in wear-resistant ceramic.

Key facts

Diameter: 46.2mm
Height: 15.6mm
Material: Steel
Water-resistance: 60m

Movement: Cal. 52010
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date and power reserve
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,800bph, or 4Hz
Power reserve: 168 hours (7 days)

Strap: Calfskin with folding clasp

Price and availability

Limited to 250 watches, the Big Pilot’s Watch “Right-Hander” (ref. IW501012) is priced at US$14,200, or €14,900.

It will be available starting August 2019 in Australia and France, followed by the rest of the world in November 2019, at both IWC boutiques and retailers.