OFF TO A FLYING START
There’s a common belief that conflict breeds invention. Some historians opine that global wars bring innovations and developments that further civilian lifestyles, but it’s not fully valid. The best inventions have come in peacetime; conflicts merely amplify their significance and therefore success. The military or pilot’s watch is emblematic of such a success.
Till the first global conflict, pocket watches were the norm. The need for co-ordinated strikes between international alliances increased the need for precision and convenient access to timekeeping, which led to officers fusing wire lugs and cutting strips of leather to use as wrist straps. But wrist watches had already existed for some time. Up till the first World War, they were mostly decorative and ornate in style, and designed for women. The normalisation of the wristwatch during WWI transformed the industry through the ’20s and ’30s as it became de rigueur.
Likewise, the development of the military-style tool watch came about prior to the second global conflict. Back in 1936, then-owner of IWC Ernst Jakob Homberger had crafted the first Pilot’s Watch for his three sons. The trio were formidable athletes representing the nation in rowing, winning an assortment of medals for Switzerland in international races. They were also passionate aviators, and that led to the elder Homberger designing a timepiece that could meet the needs of their interests.
The original Spezialuhr für Flieger (“Special Watch for Pilots” in German) had a large knurled crown, a rotatable bezel with a pointer that helped track elapsed flying time, luminous large Arabic hour markers and a small seconds counter at six. It had an anti-magnetic movement to ensure accuracy and protection against magnetic fields.
While IWC had invented its Pilot’s Watch well before the war, it wasn’t until WWII had begun that pilot’s watches became a standard bearer for timekeeping. The British Ministry of Defence (MoD) issued a call for the manufacturing of military-specced watches to equip its pilots and officers. It was a clever tactical move — the decision ensured no one company was favoured over another, and pushed privately
