IWC’s Pilot’s Watch TOP GUN lineup has served as the brand’s colorful playground since 2022, cycling through Lake Tahoe white, Woodland green, Mojave Desert beige, and Oceana blue with matching ceramic cases each time. The latest addition, Miramar blue, certainly adds a welcomed new colorway to the family but also breaks new ground by finally offering one of these Pantone collaborations in steel for the first time, effectively cutting the entry price in half.
Breaking Ceramic Boundaries
If we’re being honest, this new Miramar shade is one of our favorites. Not only is this arguably the most playful shade put on a TOP GUN but it’s so different from the nature-inspired hues of the others. The pastel blue will undoubtedly wear well with jeans and a t-shirt, but can translate perfectly fine for dressier attire as well.
Like past Pantone IWC pieces, the matte ceramic case, glossy dial, and rubber strap all share the same Miramar tone, creating a monochromatic cohesion across the entire watch. To create this particular shade of blue, IWC’s R&D landed on mixing zirconium oxide with metallic oxides in a specific ratio. This had to be repeated for the rubber strap as well, which required a completely different manufacturing process.
The rest of the specs remain intact for the ceramic variant, including the 41.9mm case with a 15.5mm thickness. Through a closed caseback, it also houses the IWC-manufactured calibre 69380 automatic, powering the signature vertical chronograph layout and featuring 46 hours of power reserve.
Steel Takes Center Stage
On the other hand, you have the stainless steel variant, which couldn’t have picked a better colorway to pair itself with. Previously, these Pantone colors remained exclusive to the ceramic TOP GUN line, but the brand has now opened the door for broader accessibility thanks to a lower price.
The case here has slightly different dimensions with a 41mm diameter and 14.5mm thickness. The movement is slightly different too, with the calibre 69385 automatic, which is functionally identical to the 69380 above but features upgraded finishing that’s visible through the sapphire caseback. You also get rhodium-plated hands that contrast better than the tone-on-tone blue hands of the ceramic version.
Both watches boast 100m of water resistance and come with the same blue rubber strap, equipped with the brand’s EasX-CHANGE strap system for quick strap swapping.
Spec Sheet
Models: Ceramic TOP GUN Miramar (IW389409), Steel Miramar (IW388117)
Case Size: 41.9mm (ceramic), 41mm (steel)
Case Thickness: 15.5mm (ceramic), 14.5mm (steel)
Movement: IWC calibre 69380 automatic (ceramic), IWC calibre 69385 automatic (steel)
Water Resistance: 100m
Strap: Miramar blue rubber with EasX-CHANGE system
Limited Edition?: Yes, 1,000 pieces (ceramic only)
Price: $13,500 (ceramic), $7,200 (steel)
Pricing & Availability
Both watches are available now directly from IWC. The ceramic TOP GUN Miramar is limited to 1,000 pieces at $13,500, while the steel version is part of the permanent collection at $7,200.
Recap
IWC Pilot’s Watch TOP GUN Chronograph Miramar
IWC debuts a new color, Miramar, to the TOP GUN collection, and makes one of these Pantone watches available in a steel case for the first time.
