IWC Pilot Watch Mark XX

by Tyler Frederick

The classic tool for the modern explorer

It’s safe to say that everyone who loves watches knows, or has experienced, IWC. For those who don’t, I’ll provide a quick summary. IWC (International Watch Company) is a brand founded in 1868 by Florentine Ariosto Jones with a straightforward goal: to create high-quality pocket watches for the American Market. After 30 years of producing pocket watches, IWC released a wristwatch in 1899. This would be the turning point for IWC. Fast forward to the present, and IWC is now one of the biggest watch brands in the world, with a catalogue of gorgeous pilot, dress, and sports watches. Caught up? Excellent.

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IWC Pilot Watch Mark XX

To everyone’s surprise, IWC released a new watch in 2022 without a press release or any hints on social media: the IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XX, the follow-up to the 2016 IWC Pilot’s Mark XVIII.

The Mark XX has the same case diameter, 40mm, but a lug-to-lug of 49mm, 2mm shorter than the lug-to-lug on the previous Mark XVIII. This creates a more balanced wearing experience and makes it more accessible to those with narrow wrists. The case is slightly thinner at 10.8mm, while the Mark XVIII is 11mm. Is it a big difference? No, but it would be worth mentioning.

The Mark XX also features an updated bracelet; it’s slightly thinner, has a silkier feel on the wrist, and now supports tool-free micro-adjust. Another spec to note is the updated 100m water resistance from the previous 60m on the Mark XVIII.

Apart from the apparent wordmark of Mark XVIII changing to Mark XX, the dial received several updates that might not be noticeable at a glance. The first is the updated date wheel from black on the previous version to white. While I’m usually a fan of a colour-matched date wheel, the white version works well across all five colourways and matches the white indices. The rectangular indexes 12, 3, 6, and 9 have been elongated and are now at the same length to create balance on the Mark XX.

From this, the triangle marker at 12 has shifted closer to the IWC logo, eliminating the negative space seen on Mark XVIII. The last change is the Mark XX now features high-polished hands compared to the matte black ones on the Mark XVIII. Overall, the updated dial is more balanced, looks more put together, and has more flash on the Mark XX.

While the externals are upgraded, the internals are also upgraded significantly. The in-house IWC Calibre 32111 powers the Mark XX, an upgrade from the Mark XVIII’s Sellita-based (SW300-1) Calibre 35111. The 32111 features a higher power reserve of 120 hours vs. the 35111 of 42 hours.

The IWC Mark XX is available through your nearest authorized dealer in four colours and retails for $5,250 ($6,900 CAD) on the leather strap or $6,150 ($7,950 CAD) on the bracelet.

About the Author

Born into a family obsessed with motorsport, Tyler Frederick became enamoured with speed and beautiful cars at a young age. His love of Formula 1–and all things mechanical–eventually lead him to horology. You can follow him on Instagram.

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