News: IWC Pilot Spitfire Chronograph for BFI
This October marks the 60th anniversary of the BFI (British Film Institute) London Film Festival, the largest public film event in the whole of the UK. It typically screens more than 300 features, documentaries and short films every year, giving exposure to both new and established talent in the movie industry. IWC has been the official timing partner for the festival since 2014, and for this significant anniversary, the brand has partnered with the BFI to launch a bursary award for emerging talent. The first award of its kind, the IWC Schaffhausen Filmmakers Bursary Award will be an annual accolade that offers £50,000 to one of the writers or directors who has a first or second feature film premiering at the festival.
Alongside the award, the watchmaker has also debuted a limited edition Pilot Spitfire Chronograph watch in commemoration, numbered to only 60 pieces. The IW387812 is a beautiful example of an IWC pilot’s watch, with a streamlined 43mm by 15.5mm stainless steel case and a clean, smart dial face. The indices and elegant, sword-shaped hands are highlighted in blue—reminiscent of the blue of the BFI logo—which also happens to be the colour of the alligator strap. The dial features a small date display at 3 o’clock, as well as two subdials for minutes and seconds that sit one atop the other at 12 and 6 o’clock. The watch runs on the in-house calibre 89365, which features chronograph and flyback functions, the pushers for which can be seen either side of the watch’s crown.
The number of each model features on the caseback of every watch in the collection, along with an inscription that bears the words ‘BFI Film Forever’. The watches are available at the IWC London boutique on New Bond Street, as well as a few selected retailers nationwide, adding to the exclusivity of the piece.
