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The IWC Top Gun watch now comes in 2 more colors (and they’re stunning)

This watch is the perfect wingman

IWC Top Gun black
IWC

Two decades after Tom Cruise suited up and brought renown and recognition to the U.S. Navy’s elite fighter pilot school in Top Gun, IWC watches became the first brand allowed to use the name of the exclusive school. The IWC Colors of Top Gun premiered in 2007. That may have been the beginning of the Top Gun watches, but the Swiss watch brand is not only known for its luxury watches; it’s also known for its pilot watch specifically.

IWC spent decades perfecting the iconic timepieces of the skies, and the Top Gun collection continued and improved upon the tradition with some of the best men’s watches designed for the “Need for Speed.” Each one is a descendant of the double chronograph with the day/date features. They initially came in Oceana (blue), Jet Black, and Lake Tahoe (white). They are all ceramic-cased and monochromatic watches, giving you the sleekest look for your time in the cockpit (or watching Tom Cruise in the cockpit). These are some of the best watches for men, and now IWC is adding to the roster with two more colors to give you even more options to look great.

IWC Top Gun Woodland
IWC

IWC Top Gun Woodland

Top Gun is the top school in the world, meant for elite naval aviators. The Woodland is inspired by the green flight suits worn by these pilots. It’s also paying homage to the wooded areas these aviators fly over. “Maverick” may have limited his dogfighting over the water in Top Gun, but the truth is these guys do the most dangerous job in the world over every terrain, including the woodland areas of the planet.

$17,400 at IWC

IWC Top Gun Mojave Desert
IWC

IWC Top Gun Mojave Desert

The oceans and the seas are not the only areas around the world that need protection from the sky. Those who graduate from Top Gun sometimes find themselves looking out for the skies over the desert. The Mojave Desert is designed to pay homage to those who look to protect us over the scorching hot barren wastelands like that of China Lake, home to the Top Gun school.

$11,700 at IWC

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Whether you’re strapping up to man the cockpit of a fighter jet and learn the lost art of dogfighting like “Maverick,” “Goose,” “Iceman,” “Viper,” and “Jester,” or you are strapping on the watch to get the looks of envy from those at the family barbecue, the new “Colors of Top Gun” additions are the picks that will keep you the center of attention.

Mark D McKee
Mark is a full-time freelance writer and men's coach. He spent time as a style consultant and bespoke suit salesman before…
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IWC expands top gun collection with mojave desert ceramic pilot watch
Desert inspiration: IWC's sand-colored ceramic pilot watch honors naval aviation heritage
IWC Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 TOP GUN Mojave Desert

IWC Schaffhausen is expanding its military aviation collection with the Pilot's Watch Automatic 41 TOP GUN Mojave Desert, the latest addition to the brand’s "Colors of TOP GUN" series. This watch features ceramic construction that pairs desert-inspired aesthetics with Swiss precision, drawing inspiration from navy flight suits and the rugged terrain surrounding the China Lake air base in California’s Western Mojave Desert.
The 41mm case showcases IWC’s forty years of ceramic expertise, rendered in their proprietary "Mojave Desert" color—a muted earth tone blending beige and khaki. This distinctive shade does more than look good; it directly references the flight suits worn by navy pilots and the arid landscape where US Navy aviators train at China Lake.
IWC’s ceramic process highlights how complex achieving this subtle color actually is. Artisans form ceramic from powdered raw materials into "green body" shapes, machine them closer to their final form, and then fire them in a kiln. This high-temperature process makes the ceramic exceptionally hard and scratch-resistant. The Mojave Desert color is achieved by carefully mixing zirconium oxide with metallic oxides.
The challenge increases because the color changes during firing, requiring extensive testing to achieve the exact tone. This meticulous approach reflects IWC’s long-standing dedication to advanced materials—a legacy dating back over 150 years, making them pioneers in both titanium and ceramic watchmaking.
The watch’s design maintains a unified color scheme. The brown dial features understated minute scales and numerals that glow with Super-LumiNova for legibility in low light, matching the ceramic case. A beige rubber strap with a fabric inlay and a titanium pin buckle completes the look, adding both durability and comfort.
Technical excellence is evident in the IWC-manufactured 32112 caliber. This automatic movement uses a pawl winding system to deliver a 120-hour power reserve. Its 4Hz frequency ensures precise timekeeping, and the bi-directional rotor efficiently stores energy from even the smallest wrist movements.
The titanium case back is engraved with the TOP GUN logo, underscoring the watch’s connection to naval aviation while also reducing weight. The choice of titanium further demonstrates IWC’s expertise in working with advanced metals, complementing their mastery of ceramics.
This watch joins a growing Mojave Desert collection, which includes the Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar TOP GUN Edition, the Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41, and the Big Pilot's Watch TOP GUN Edition. All feature the signature sand-colored ceramic, but offer different functionalities and case sizes.
IWC’s commitment to sustainable luxury is evident in their careful sourcing of materials and efforts to minimize environmental impact, ensuring these watches embody both technical mastery and responsible craftsmanship. The brand’s focus on transparency, reuse, and care results in timepieces built to last for generations.
The Pilot's Watch Automatic 41 TOP GUN Mojave Desert demonstrates how military inspiration can be transformed into civilian luxury, blending professional tool heritage with contemporary design through advanced materials and renowned Swiss watchmaking expertise.

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