American Florentine Ariosto Jones founded the International the Watch Company (IWC) in 1868 with the intention of combining American engineering with Swiss craftsmanship. Well-known for producing pilot's watches with chronograph and time-only functions, IWC has also produced some of the most complicated perpetual calendar movements.
 
The origins of the Mark XV can be found all the way back to the 1930s, a time when IWC played a key role in establishing the fundamental characteristics of what an aviation watch was supposed to do. With the development of aviation, the world became smaller and smaller, and pilots demanded better watches. All of a sudden, watches needed to be dependable, accurate, and reassuringly sturdy in addition to withstanding high temperatures, magnetic fields, and vibrations.
 
With IWC's multi-generational Pilot line, you can be sure that, like this Mark XV, you will ultimately be wearing a timeless classic on your wrist, regardless of which generation you happen to like. This generation of IWC, which made its debut in the late 1990s, has a ton of transitional appeal. 
 
This piece feels very much in line with its purposeful tool watch spirit, thanks to the pre-gentrified details and the squared-off hour hand from previous iterations. If you're exacting about measurements, this 38mm gem hits the mark. You can be sure that the advantages of a 21st-century IWC are recognized while maintaining the endearing detail of the Pilots legacy when you use this IW3253-07. Has anyone mentioned the best of both worlds?