IWC’s latest release for 2025 sees a fresh new color make its debut in the Colors of Top Gun series: the “Miramar” blue. This soft, light blue hue takes its inspiration from the light blue shirts worn by Top Gun instructors beneath their flight suits, and it’s making its first appearance on two models of the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41. While one model is the standard stainless steel version, the other is a limited edition Top Gun Miramar, part of a 1,000-piece run, featuring IWC’s innovative ceramic case. Named after the Naval Air Station Miramar, where the Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) was founded, the Miramar blue offers a less militaristic vibe compared to the other more rugged Top Gun shades like Mojave Desert or Oceana.
The first release, the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 (ref.
IW388117), is a stainless steel model with the signature Miramar blue dial and strap. It maintains the 41mm diameter and 14.5mm thickness of its siblings, offering a polished design with a convex sapphire crystal and screw-down crown for 100 meters of water resistance. The standout feature is the absence of the bright red accent on the running seconds hand, a detail usually found on IWC’s chronographs. Instead, this model has a fully polished handset, elevating its refined look.
The second model, the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Top Gun Miramar (ref
. IW389409), takes the Miramar blue dial and strap and applies it to IWC’s ceramic Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Mojave Desert case. This ceramic version is slightly larger, measuring 41.9mm by 15.5mm thick. The ceramic case is paired with a titanium buckle, contrasting with the stainless steel of the other model. It’s also equipped with a solid screw-down caseback featuring a soft-iron inner shield for added protection against magnetism.
Both models are powered by IWC’s Caliber 69385 automatic movement in the stainless steel version and the Caliber 69380 in the ceramic Top Gun edition.
The movements feature a column-wheel chronograph with a 33-jewel design, operating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz) with a 46-hour power reserve. Additionally, the rubber straps on both models use the brand’s EasX-CHANGE system, making them easy to remove without tools.
While these models stand out for their unique color and design, the significant price difference between the stainless steel and ceramic versions raises some eyebrows. The stainless steel Miramar edition will retail for $7,200, while the ceramic Top Gun version is priced at $13,500, a premium that has left some watch enthusiasts questioning the value of the ceramic upgrade. With this release, IWC continues to experiment with innovative materials and colors, bringing a new level of luxury to its popular pilot’s chronograph series.
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