iwc IWC Big Pilot 5009 - GEN vs REP Comparison

[thermalboyz]

IWC Big Pilot 5009 - GEN vs REP Comparison

 

IWC comes back with a new limited edition, honoring one of its favorite ambassadors (unfortunately not with us anymore), Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, pilot and writer, and its most famous character, ‘le Petit Prince’. Using the same concept as several other editions of the Pilot collection, it is now the Big Pilot that is paying tribute to one of the most classical books of all time. Please welcome the IWC Big Pilot Watch Edition ‘Le Petit Prince’. Several other watches of the Pilot collection had been used to serve as a tribute to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and ‘Le Petit Prince’. 

Specifications
Mechanical movement Calibre 51111 
Pellaton automatic winding system 
7-day power reserve when fully wound 
Power reserve display 
Date display 
Central hacking seconds 
Glucydur®* beryllium alloy balance 
Breguet spring 
Screw-in crown 
Limited to 1,000 watches 
Special engraving featuring the little prince and inscription “IWC ∙ LE PETIT PRINCE ∙ ONE OUT OF 1000” on case back.

Case and folding clasp in stainless steel, midnight blue dial, rhodium-plated hands and indices, coated with Super-LumiNova®*, brown calfskin strap with quilted stitching

Glass: sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sides, withstands drops in air pressure

Case diameter 46mm, Case height 16mm, Water resistance 6 bar

Credit to author from Lingmuwatch

General Impression : Le Petit Prince (5009-08)

From the dial, the overall configuration of the two watch basically look the same. Genuine hands thinner and have a bit of curvature, ZF at this point engraved techniques quite strong, are basically the same axis with the genuine.

Dial Logo / Colour :

Then compare the two trademark / Logo of the watch, shown ZF plant still have room of improvement. Gen IWC logo shown slightly bold than ZF although not that obvious from naked eyes, but still point it out in this comparison. Sunbrust effect and blue is very close to GEN but the sub-dial not quite as it looks bit more shiny than the GEN sub-dial. 

Crystal :

Genuine watch used an exquisite style domed sapphire crystal glass, with double-sided anti-glare (AR) treatment for translucent clear view, rounded at the edges of the arc reveals elegant retro temperament. ZF crystal in the appearance looks very close to the Gen. 

Dial :

The numerical / index on the dial is our main focus here, the GEN index boarder has some metal reflection effect where ZF index making are very close to the GEN too.

Hands :

Perfect! To point it out the second hand on GEN and REP is bended inwards to the dial (So it's not a defects) It is because of the curvature of the crystal so that the second hand won't get stuck at the end of the crystal. Like pilot and Portuguese the hands is bent. 

Index @ 12 :

Very well made from ZF. 

LUME :

Luminous effect due to differences in the extent of absorption of light, GEN color lighter brighter. But ZF luminous hands seems not very uniform, which can be seen as a big difference. 

Crown :

GEN crown with a unique design and large design brings comfort. ZF crown look consistent with the GEN, especially difficult to see the difference from naked eye. In high magnification the GEN crown has deeper curve than ZF plant , very hard to see but you can feel the differences.

Crown Logo :

GEN is one piece crown but ZF looks like the logo is stick on plate and it's sit deeper inside.

Case :

Carefully observed from the side, ZF has slightly thicker than the GEN, the outer periphery of the metal finishing brush process is very delicate, almost exactly the same with the genuine.

Back Case :

Next we focus on the back cover of this watch - "the little prince". Despite engraved items back cover design is still impressive, but the matt finished inside the circle still not up to the GEN standard. GEN matt finished looks smooth but ZF still need to improve it's matt finish.

Inside Back case :

Huge difference here where GEN is smooth but ZF had a circle dip in the middle. Finishing also look different. 

Back case engraving :

GEN Font is slightly bolder than zf, but this is harmless, only notice when open the back cover. 

Movement :

Personally I think ZF has done a great job on it's movement rotor and deco. From the movement deco plate to the rotor, ZF has done a good job on this with engraving. Although it a closed back watch and this shown ZF had put effort into every details.

Deployant :

The differences inside the clasp is still relatively small, GEN IWC trademark engraved on clasp is deeper and ZF slightly shallow.

Leather Band :

This watch with a brown calfskin strap reveal a tough industrial style genuine calf leather strap bring elegant to the watch and not compromised comfortable wearing feel. ZF factory engraved bracelet also achieve the same effect, very close to GEN.

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General Impression : Big Pilot Black (5009-01)

Dial :

The picture below you will find the details of the work is good, the PR colour (RED) in sub-dial has different red. Calendar font color bit whiter on GEN (background colour is the same) and date window size was done quite perfect too. PR hand is quite good too and it just the pinion is slightly large look on the ZF model. 

Index / Number :

Number and index quite spot on. Only the "Swiss Made" at the bottom of date is thinner on the REP. (5009-01 model does not have the metal look frame outside the boundary of the Number like the LPP)

Hands :

Hands are pretty spot on too, the length is perfect as you can see from the pictures below in different angle. 

Crown :

Crown groove is spot-on, I've count them and it's the same. Crown logo is a bit sunken on the REP but engraving are pretty well made. 

Side view :

Only small difference if anyone can spot it here. It's the curvature of the lug on the REP is slightly thicker. Otherwise, brushing and finishing is perfect.

Back Case :

Fonts on the GEN is thicker and deeper engraved. On the back of the Back case it have engraving too and it's the same as the LPP version. Movement comparison is the same as LPP version. (Pictures without RED wording represent the REP.

Deployant :

GEN engraved finer and deeper compare to the REP. The REP engraving also looks a bit flat to me. Back of the deployant is an obvious difference to spot.

Conclusion :

LPP
A very well made pieces from ZF, Blue sunbrust effect with real PR is the main buying point. However, it has a few minor discrepancies between them where ZF still have room for improvement. Especially the Sub-dial looking too shiny than the GEN and the matt finished back case. Apart from that other are not to obvious to spot unless you have a GEN beside you to compare with. 

Black
Black version is pretty well made too again very similar to the LLP flaws (Room for improvements). Sub-sial bit shiny, PR red is not the same colour, Crown, back case plus buckle. In general it's pretty spotted on model.
 

[louky]

Excellent review!Thank you!

[sunnydale]

This comparison is so great, thanks for doing this!

[nass]

Having just bought the 5009 black, I have to say your review was excellent and very informative! Thank you 

[astonjenks]

Great job OP

AJ

[coolpan]

Thank you so much for your Time to make this Review\Comparison,i want to buy a Iwc and now u helped me so much to know where i have to watch to see if it is a good Rep or not.Thank you , you are

[Hedonist@]

Great rewiev
Thank you

[conankinder]

Thanks for the information OP