The IWC Big Pilot's Watch is IWC's large, legible pilot's watch with an oversized crown, and the family splits into four groups: the 43 mm time-only model, the original 46 mm size with a seven-day movement, and the complicated versions with a perpetual calendar or tourbillon. Most references differ in case size, movement and complication, not in design, so the choice comes down to wrist size and how much mechanics you want. This guide separates the references, explains how each size wears and shows how a Big Pilot is sourced to order. Bizak & Co. is a sourcing desk, not an authorised IWC retailer, and nothing here is a stock listing.
Last reviewed on October 28, 2026 by Filip Biczak. Specifications come from IWC's press material and launch coverage and can differ by reference; confirm any individual watch against its papers. Sources: IWC press release, Little Prince pilot's watches, SJX on the Big Pilot's Watch 43 and Watchonista on the 2021 pilot's watches.
What are the main IWC Big Pilot's Watch models?
There are four groups worth knowing: the 46 mm original, the 43 mm, the perpetual calendars and the tourbillon editions. The table compares the representative references; limited editions change often, so treat it as a map rather than a catalogue.
| Model | Example reference | Case | Movement and function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Pilot's Watch (original size) | IW501001; other dials and editions exist | About 46 mm | In-house 52000-family calibre, seven-day power reserve, date and power reserve display |
| Big Pilot's Watch 43 | IW329301, IW329303, IW329304 | 43 mm, about 13.6 mm thick, steel | Calibre 82100, Pellaton winding, about 60 hours, hours, minutes and seconds |
| Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar | IW503605 (steel, 2021) | 46.2 mm, about 15.4 mm thick | Seven-day power reserve, calendar set entirely with the crown |
| Big Pilot's Watch 43 Tourbillon Le Petit Prince | IW329501 | 43 mm platinum | Calibre 82905, flying tourbillon, 80 hours, limited to 150 pieces |
| Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Le Petit Prince | IW504901 | 46.5 mm blue ceramic with a 5N gold crown and case back ring | Calibre 51950, limited to 100 pieces |
What is the difference between the Big Pilot 43 and the 46 mm?
The 43 is a smaller, thinner, time-only watch, while the 46 mm is the larger original with a seven-day reserve and a power reserve display. Launch coverage lists the 43 at 43 mm and roughly 13.6 mm thick, against about 46.2 mm for the original. The 43 runs the calibre 82100 with Pellaton winding and an open sapphire case back, and drops the date and power reserve display of the larger watch. The 46 keeps the longer reserve and the solid case back that its owners tend to associate with the model.
Neither is the better watch in the abstract. The 43 suits a typical wrist and sits under a cuff; the 46 is a statement piece that is meant to be seen.
Which Big Pilot fits which wrist?
The 43 fits most wrists, and the 46 mm needs a larger wrist or a taste for a large watch. A Big Pilot reads larger than its diameter suggests, because the dial is open and the numerals are big. If you are between sizes, try both on, because the 3 mm difference is obvious in the mirror but easier to judge on the wrist than in a table. Complicated references add height: the perpetual calendar is thicker than the time-only watch, and a platinum case weighs more than steel or ceramic.
What does the Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar offer?
It adds a full calendar that you set with the crown alone, in the large 46 mm family. Coverage of the 2021 steel IW503605 describes a 46.2 mm case, a seven-day reserve and a calendar with no pushers on the case. Later versions appear in ceramic and in limited Top Gun and Le Petit Prince editions, and IWC has also made the perpetual calendar in a smaller case, so check the diameter of the exact reference. Our guide to the IWC Top Gun references covers the ceramic variants in more detail.
What are the Big Pilot tourbillon editions?
They are limited editions that put a tourbillon into the Big Pilot design, usually as part of IWC's Le Petit Prince series. The platinum IW329501 is a 43 mm watch with the flying tourbillon at 6 o'clock and an 80-hour reserve, limited to 150 pieces. Its sibling, the IW504901, combines a perpetual calendar with a tourbillon in a 46.5 mm blue ceramic case, limited to 100 pieces. Both were announced in 2025. Our full IW329501 review goes through the movement and what to check before buying.
Is the Big Pilot a good first IWC?
The 43 is the easiest entry, because it is the least complicated and the most wearable. If you prefer a different style of IWC, our IWC buying guide compares the Pilot's, Portugieser, Portofino and Aquatimer lines. You can also browse the IWC collection to see which references we can source, including Big Pilot variants such as the Perpetual Calendar Ceralume in 46 mm ceramic and the Perpetual Calendar ProSet Le Petit Prince in 42 mm steel.
How do you buy a Big Pilot's Watch?
You start with the reference, because the Big Pilot catalogue has many similar-looking watches with different cases, dials and movements. Then ask for the box, papers and strap, and for photographs of the case and the case back. We source on demand: we find a specific unit and confirm its details before you commit, and entries in our catalogue are sourcing targets, not owned stock.
Quick answers
What size is the IWC Big Pilot's Watch?
The original is about 46 mm and the Big Pilot's Watch 43 is 43 mm. Some perpetual calendar and tourbillon editions use 42 mm, 43 mm or 46.5 mm cases, so check the reference.
Which IWC Big Pilot has a tourbillon?
The IW329501 is a 43 mm platinum watch with a flying tourbillon, and the IW504901 combines a tourbillon with a perpetual calendar in a 46.5 mm ceramic case. Both are limited editions from IWC's Le Petit Prince series.
Does the Big Pilot 43 have a date?
The standard Big Pilot's Watch 43 is a time-only watch with hours, minutes and seconds. The 46 mm original has a date and a power reserve display.
How long does the Big Pilot's power reserve last?
The 46 mm original and perpetual calendar have a seven-day reserve, the 43 about 60 hours and the IW329501 tourbillon 80 hours, according to launch coverage and IWC's press material.
Get your IWC sourced
Tell us the model, size, dial and bracelet preference, whether you want new or pre-owned, and your budget and timing, through our sourcing enquiry form. We confirm the specific watch, photographs and final price before you commit, so you can arrange financing against a real target.
A catalogue entry can be reserved with a $200 deposit, which is applied to the purchase price and is refundable only if Bizak & Co. cannot fulfil your order.
Related reading: Which IWC to buy · IWC Top Gun references · IW329501 review.
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