EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE IWC MARK XVIII

The Mark XVII was built and introduced back in 1993, the first civilian "Mark" watch, featuring an automatic movement (Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 889) and a date function. IWC watches were incredible and used movements you could argue were finished to a higher standard than Rolex. 

Much like all other watch brands, their first model lasted a few years before an upgrade was introduced in 1999 and IWC gave us the Mark XV. In the early 2000s there was a growing demand for larger sized watches and that’s exactly what IWC did. 

The Mark XV was a larger and more contemporary version of the Mark XII at 38 mm, with improved water resistance and a more robust movement featuring a 42 hour power reserve. This may not sound like much by today's standards but for a watch back then it was way ahead of its competitors. This made it ideal to be worn as a daily timepiece in the 21st century and could now cope with all the demands of a modern-day person's life. 

Later in 2006 IWC gave the world another updated version and intrigued the new Mark XVI, this time the dial layout was cleaner and sharper and came in a modest 39mm case size. A case size that can suit many more wrists than the 38 mm case size of its predecessors. Whilst there may not have been a big size difference it definitely increased its appeal to the male audience of IWC and their sales started to take off. 

The bold Arabic numerals, date display at the 3 o’clock position and matte dial made for a striking piece. The famous large crown was slowly becoming developed and the teeth on the crown became more pronounced.

Fast forward to 6 years later and IWC then gave us the Mark XVII which shares a much closer resemblance to the version we know today in 2025. IWC increased the case size to 41 mm which was the largest case size jump they had ever done but it was still a very wearable size. 

It came on a 5-link bracelet in all brushed stainless steel to help with durability and hiding scratches better. They also introduced the stunning blue dial we all know and love from IWC along with a pilot leather strap option for the watch. The sword hands became larger and more prominent giving the watch a completely different feel compared to any of the older models developed

Finally we arrive at the birth of the IWC Mark XVIII which they launched in 2016 and in doing so they simplified and redesigned their watch again. The Mark XVIII marked a return to the minimalist roots of the Mark series, drawing inspiration from the clean aesthetics and utilitarian functionality of the original Mark 11. After all, this is a tool watch at the end of the day, and IWC wanted to make sure they were well connected to their original roots when they launched this version.

Like every update they’ve made, the case size changed again, this time it was made small to a 40mm stainless steel case, smaller and more versatile than its immediate predecessor. It featured a simplified dial with bold Arabic numerals and no triple date display, echoing the classic design language of the Mark 11. Inside the watch was the IWC Calibre 35111, an automatic movement based on the Sellita SW300-1, still offering a 42-hour power reserve and great reliability. However, compared to all the other models this one had a soft iron case in order to maintain the anti-magnetic properties that have been a hallmark of the series. Whilst using a sapphire crystal was certainly no new news, they did start to use anti-reflective coating for increased legibility.

The Mark XVIII directly references the Mark 11 in several design elements, such as the triangle marker at 12 o’clock, a hallmark of IWC pilot’s watches. This has been a key and unique feature of all the Mark watches in the range so it’s nice to see IWC doing their best to pay tribute to their earliest version. 

The focus on readability, with high-contrast black, white or blue dials and luminescent hands. IWC understands how to make the perfect tool watch but they also understand consumers' needs, and most of us are not pilots flying at lighting speeds needing to read the time to make a split-second decision next. 

That’s why the introduction of the blue dial made complete sense as you still had the classic black or white dial to choose from but you now had a more fun option. IWC also released a Mark XVIII Heritage Edition, which further embraces the Mark 11’s vintage style, featuring a titanium case and retro brown calfskin strap.

The Mark XVIII caters to contemporary watch enthusiasts who value the legacy of pilot’s watches without sacrificing modern practicality. Its design bridges the past and present, appealing to both collectors and everyday wearers. 

Unlike the purely military-focused Mark 11, the Mark XVIII is designed for civilian use while still embodying the qualities that made the original a military icon: reliability, legibility, and understated elegance. 

The Mark XVIII stands as a modern-day certificate to IWC’s ability to create new watches, evolve with the times but preserve their own heritage. This is something, any watch brands find particularly hard to do, innovating new designs and products whilst preserving their roots is a very fine and hard line to walk but IWC does so effortlessly. 

In much the same way IWC designed their watches to be worn more often on straps for enhanced comfort, ZEALANDE takes that exact same philosophy which is why they design the best luxury rubber straps for your IWC. With the IWC Mark XVIII being a tool watch for pilots, why not give it a tool watch look and feel with either ZEALANDE’s universal rubber strap or single pass strap? Both of these straps are made with ultra-well finishings like a 316L stainless steel pin bucks and a second keeper with a pin in it to make sure it stays perfectly in place. 

This makes any IWC watch feel like it is perfectly hugging your wrist with no excess fabric anywhere. Additionally, you have many different strap colour options available to you so you can either choose to match your case or dial should you wish to or choose a fun colour to have a more playful look.