Where it comes from
The big crown answered a need in the cockpits of early aircraft. They had no heating, so the air at the controls was cold, and pilots wore heavy gloves to keep their hands warm. A small crown is hard to grip through a thick glove. Watchmakers answered with crowns that were larger and more sharply contoured, so a pilot could turn them without bare fingers. The extra size made winding easier, and the deep shape gave the glove something to hold on to.
What shapes does a big crown take?
Watches made for German military pilots became known for two crown shapes. One is shaped like an onion. The other is shaped like a diamond. Both give a gloved hand a firm edge to turn. The IWC Big Pilot carries the idea on. Its crown is cone-shaped and cut with facets, like a large gemstone. The facets give the fingers, or a glove, a firm grip when working the crown.
Which watches are known for a big crown?
In 1940 IWC built a very large pilot’s watch for the Luftwaffe, the H/52 T.S.C., at 55mm across. The early big IWC pilot’s watches had large diamond-shaped crowns that were easy to use with bare or gloved hands. The ancestor of the IWC Big Pilot was not worn in the air. It was an observation watch, used by officers at air bases. The crown has also given its name to watches. The Oris Big Crown Pointer Date is one example.
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