IWC Schaffhausen celebrates the Year of the Goat with the Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41
IWC Schaffhausen celebrates the 2027 Year of the Goat with the Pilot's Watch Performance Chronograph 41 Year of the Goat.
To mark Chinese New Year 2027, IWC Schaffhausen unveils the Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41 Year of the Goat (ref. IW388310). Limited to 500 pieces, this special edition pairs a gold-coloured dial with a titanium case and a black ceramic bezel. Its originality is revealed on the back, where the oscillating weight takes the form of three goats, a symbol of good fortune in Chinese culture.
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A special edition dedicated to the Year of the Goat
6 February 2027 will mark the start of the Year of the Goat in the Chinese zodiac calendar. To celebrate the occasion, IWC Schaffhausen continues its tradition of Chinese New Year creations with a new version of its Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41. Bearing the reference IW388310, this edition limited to 500 pieces stands out first of all for its gold-coloured dial. This is a first for this special collection, whose earlier interpretations favoured shades of burgundy. The colour carries strong symbolism: in Chinese culture, gold is associated with luck, prosperity and prestige. The contrast is heightened by black sub-dials and gold-plated hands. The dial sits in a 41 mm brushed titanium case, punctuated by polished edges and paired with a black ceramic bezel. A black calfskin strap completes the look. Thanks to the EasX-CHANGE® system, it can be swapped without tools, at the simple press of a button.
Three goats, a symbol of good fortune
The distinguishing feature of this edition lies on the back of the watch. Visible through the sapphire glass caseback, the gold-coloured oscillating weight depicts three goats gathered in a small herd. The motif refers to an ancient Chinese cultural tradition in which three goats symbolise good fortune. This interpretation has its origins notably in the Book of Changes, or I Ching. The Chinese term “yáng”, which refers to the goat, is also associated with positive energy and renewal. Over the centuries, the animal has become a symbol of beauty and benevolence.
IWC thus translates this cultural reference into a mechanical component of the watch. The rotor adopts a sculpted form never before seen in the manufacture’s creations, giving this special edition an identity that goes beyond the aesthetic choice of the dial alone.
Calibre 69385 at the heart of the chronograph
The watch is powered by the IWC manufacture calibre 69385, a self-winding mechanical movement designed for robustness and reliability. It runs at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, or 4 Hz, and has 33 jewels. Its power reserve reaches 46 hours. The chronograph display follows the manufacture’s characteristic vertical layout. Elapsed minutes are positioned at 12 o’clock, while the day and date display sits at 3 o’clock. This display also holds an additional reference to the zodiac sign being celebrated: on the eighth day of each month, the Chinese character for goat replaces the number 8 in the calendar window.
The watch retains the functional features of the Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41 line, notably a screw-down crown, a domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides and water resistance of 10 bar. The case measures 14.8 mm in height and has a transparent back through which the movement and its distinctive oscillating weight can be admired.
A horological interpretation of the Chinese calendar
With this Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41 Year of the Goat, IWC Schaffhausen makes the Chinese zodiac calendar the common thread of a special edition. The gold-coloured dial, the black contrasts and above all the rotor sculpted in the shape of three goats place this creation in an ancient cultural tradition, without altering the mechanical architecture of the chronograph. Limited to 500 pieces, the reference IW388310 thus stands out through personalisation work that extends as much to the dial indications as to the elements visible through the sapphire caseback.
Frequently asked questions
The Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41 Year of the Goat, reference IW388310, is limited to 500 pieces.
In an ancient Chinese cultural tradition, three goats symbolise good fortune. The sculpted, gold-coloured rotor takes up this motif, visible through the sapphire glass caseback.
It combines a 41 mm brushed titanium case, a black ceramic bezel, a gold-coloured dial and a black calfskin strap.
The IWC manufacture calibre 69385, a self-winding movement, runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour and offers a 46-hour power reserve.
On the eighth day of each month, the Chinese character for goat replaces the number 8 in the calendar window.
