The Mark series, as we previously noted while covering the Mark XVII earlier last year, is a collection rooted in the style of B-Uhr pilots’ watches, and also influenced by the classic military-style watches known by the moniker “Dirty Dozen.”
It was not until 1993, with Replica Watches release of the Mark XII, that the modern Mark series was born. Today, we see the latest iteration of the Mark series in the XVIII.
On the dial, you’ll again notice how this was carried out, with large Arabic numerals, a visible minute ring, a plain date window at the 3 o’clock mark, and the hallmark of any classical pilots’ watch, the triangle with two dots at the 12 o’clock position. Other features to notice are the large hour and minute hands that decisively indicate the time, an IWC Replica Watches soft-iron inner case to protect the movement from magnetic fields, and the option for either a black or white dial, and for a leather strap or metal bracelet.
With the vintage models, the purpose for utilitarian durability and readability is clearly seen in the steel case and contrasting black and white dial. But outside of the inspiration for the design, the vintage and modern pieces look almost completely different: the cases are thicker and larger in the modern watch and have contemporary finishing; the modern dial features are all larger and more visible; and the movement is an ETA-based automatic workhorse rather than the manually wound IWC Caliber 83 found in many vintage watches developed by the brand.
More similarities can be found, however, when comparing the IWC Fake Watches Mark XVIII to earlier pieces in the Mark series since the 1990 re-release. Throughout the life of the modern Mark series, the general case shape has remained the same, as have the dial features. These include the placement of the triangle at the 12 o’clock position slightly below the minute ring, the use of Arabic numerals all the way around the dial, the sword-shaped hands, and the basic date window at the 3 o’clock mark.
The modern IWC Mark XVIII is certainly an interesting new edition to the historical lineage of the Mark series, as well as to the larger historical IWC Pilot’s Watch collection.Overall, it adds another element to the increasingly growing IWC Pilot’s Watch collection, and offers a solid model both for first-time consumers entering the world of IWC watches, and for longtime collectors hunting for an everyday-wear watch with a solid backstory.
