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When I think of IWC, I think of its Mark series watches. The IWC Mark XVI Spitfire is an oddball in this iconic series of watches – which is why I love it. It’s unique in all the right ways. In this long-term ownership review, I’ll outline why it’s my personal favorite Mark series watch that IWC has put out so far.
Why The Mark Series Is Great
The “Mark” series watches have a long history, arguably starting with the Spezialuhr für Flieger, or Special Pilot’s Watch. This is referred to as the Mark IX, although IWC likely never labeled it that. The Mark X is where things get interesting. The British wanted watches to issue troops in the 1940s, and outlined specifications for these watches. Classified as Mark X by the British MoD (Ministry of Defense), this led to the “Dirty Dozen” watches that are prized by collectors today.
The IWC Mark X was powered by a hand-winding Calibre 83 movement, and included stricter specifications, as well as upgrades such as a faraday cage (to prevent magnetism). It also included a waterproof stainless steel case with a screwed ring to protect the crystal from sudden drops in air pressure.
The Mark XI was introduced in 1949, built initially for Royal Air Force navigators, but also utilized by pilots as well. In the beginning, both IWC and Jaeger-LeCoultre supplied the watches. JLC eventually ceased production once the RAF decided to buy solely from IWC. Mark XI watches produced by IWC can also be found with JLC movements, however.
The series continued in 1993 with the Mark XII, and the transition from military to civilian watch arguably happened in 1999 with the introduction of the Mark XV. Then came 2006, when the Mark series was shaken up dramatically with the introduction of the Mark XVI.
Why The IWC Mark XVI Spitfire?
So of all the choices in IWC’s Mark series lineup throughout the years, why did I settle on the Mark XVI Spitfire? Because it’s the most unique, that’s why. If I was a purist, I’d maybe go for a Mark XVIII (I’m not a huge fan of buying vintage), but in this case, I’m willing to go with the oddball of the series.
The Mark XVI introduced a larger case (39mm) and different hands (larger flieger-style). The design language is different, and in the case of the Spitfire line – dramatically different. Arguably different from any other Mark series watch ever produced by IWC.
It’s not just the hands that changed completely. Take a look at the dial, and you’ll see what I mean. Gone is the sterile black dial with printed Arabic numerals. In their place are applied numerals, with a cut-off “10”. While this is probably controversial amongst purists, I love the look.
The silver-plated center and outer track, sandwiching in the cream, concentric circles in the middle, really look great. It also feels like this watch gives you access to three or four different dials, largely because of the way it transforms its look depending on light and angle. I’m not aware of any other IWC Mark series watch with this level of detail on the dial – or any other classic flieger for that matter. That’s why I think it’s awesome. It’s a quirky standout that doesn’t bow to tradition.
The Case: More Traditional
The Mark XVI Spitfire’s case is more traditional in contrast to the dial. It’s mostly brushed, but does have some nice, polished bevels on the lugs, which I really appreciate. The brushed, conical bezel is flat at the top, and this flat part is polished. It adds another interesting visual element to the watch and complements the color-shifting dial. Sometimes the flat, top part of the bezel looks black – due to the excellent polishing skills of IWC.
The 39mm case comes in at 11.5mm thick, but wears much slimmer. Part of this is the slightly domed sapphire crystal. The watch also wears much thinner than the quoted specs because as can be seen above, the mid-case is all that can be seen when on wrist. The part that juts out at the bottom sinks into your wrist and isn’t visible when you’re actually wearing the watch. I personally think it feels more like 9mm or 10mm on wrist, and it’ll fit under any shirt cuff you throw at it.
A True GADA
As previously mentioned, the Mark XVI Spitfire has a much more elaborate dial than any other Mark series watch I’m aware of. I’d argue that it can be “dressed up” easier than the more traditional versions of the Mark series watches. From a distance, it looks like a dress watch, especially on a nice alligator or croc strap. It’s not like it can’t be dressed down either, though.
Let’s not forget, the Mark XVI is still a real tool watch, with a soft-iron inner case for protection against magnetic fields. It also maintains a crystal that’s secured against displacement by dramatic drops in air pressure, just like its predecessors. It’s powered by IWC’s caliber 30110, which is based on the venerable workhorse ETA 2892-A2.
It can definitely be considered a true go anywhere, do anything (GADA) watch. It could even be an “only watch” in my opinion, considering it also comes with a screwdown crown. The watch has a random 60 meters of water resistance. Not 50m, not 100m – 60 meters exactly. How and why they came up with this number is beyond me, but it should be more than enough to survive a dip in a swimming pool.
Conclusion
The IWC Mark XVI Spitfire was only produced from 2006 to 2012. If you’re a purist, you may not like this model. Which I get. I’m somewhat of a Speedmaster purist: insisting that my classic manual-winding, non-hacking Moonwatch came with a Hesalite crystal.
The cut-off “10” marker might bother you as well, but in person, I don’t find that it detracts from the watch – or the beautifully detailed dial for that matter. The applied numerals are deep and create an interesting three-dimensional look. They complement the mixture of different textures and finishes on the dial. I’ve found that this watch looks good with a suit, but just as good in shorts and a T-shirt. It’s different than any other watch in IWC’s Mark series – in a good way.