Following a well-established tradition in its thematic release calendar, IWC Schaffhausen welcomes the upcoming Chinese New Year with a deeply symbolic timepiece. Limited to 500 units worldwide, the new Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41 “Year of the Goat” (Ref. IW388310) pairs a high-performance brushed titanium case and black ceramic bezel with a warm gold-toned dial—a hue traditionally associated with prestige, fortune, and prosperity in Eastern culture.
A Warm Aesthetic and an Exclusive Date Window Detail
While the manufacture’s previous Chinese New Year special editions featured intense burgundy dials, this marks the first time IWC has introduced a gold-toned surface to this line. The vertical-layout black sub-dials—with the minute counter positioned at 12 o’clock—and gold-plated hands create a striking contrast against the background, endowing the piece with a highly refined sports-utility elegance.
Beating inside the 41 mm case (14.8 mm thick) is the **IWC-manufactured 69385 caliber**, a mechanical column-wheel chronograph movement engineered for ultimate robustness and precision, operating at 28,800 vibrations per hour with a 46-hour power reserve. As an exclusive touch for collectors, the date window at 3 o’clock holds a hidden surprise: on the 8th day of every month, the standard numeral is replaced by the Chinese character representing the goat.
The Symbolism of the Three Goats on the Case Back
The true secret of this special edition is revealed when turning the watch over. Through the transparent sapphire crystal case back, a gold-plated oscillating weight is unveiled, meticulously openworked and sculpted to take the form of a small cluster of three goats.
This representation traces its roots back to the ancient Book of Changes (I Ching), where the concept of “yang”—whose pronunciation coincides with the Chinese word for goat—symbolizes positive energy, happiness, and the dawn of a prosperous new cycle. This is the first time IWC has integrated this traditional motif into the rotor of one of its timepieces.
The package is completed by a black calfskin leather strap equipped with the EasX-CHANGE quick-change system, allowing the strap to be swapped at the push of a button without tools, secured by a titanium pin buckle.
⚙️ Technical Summary
IWC Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41 “Year of the Goat”
41 mm titanium case with a black ceramic bezel, gold-toned dial with black sub-dials, automatic IWC-manufactured 69385 caliber, exclusive three-goat rotor, and custom date indicator featuring the Chinese goat character on the 8th. Limited edition of 500 units. Ref. IW388310.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | IWC Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41 “Year of the Goat” |
|---|---|
| Reference | IW388310 |
| Case | Brushed titanium case; black ceramic bezel; 41 mm diameter; 14.8 mm thickness; convex sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides (secured against displacement by drops in air pressure); see-through sapphire case back; screw-in crown; water-resistant to 10 bar |
| Movement | IWC-manufactured 69385 Caliber; mechanical self-winding chronograph movement; 28,800 vph (4 Hz); 33 jewels; 46-hour power reserve |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, and small seconds with stop function; chronograph for hours, minutes, and seconds; day and date display (with the goat character on the 8th day) |
| Dial | Gold-toned dial with contrasting black sub-dials; gold-plated hands and appliqués with luminous material |
| Strap | Black calfskin leather strap with integrated EasX-CHANGE system and titanium pin buckle |
| Limitation | Special edition limited to 500 pieces |
