IWC Equipped the Cast of Top Gun With Authentic Pilot’s Watches

Tom Cruise and a Orfina x Porsche design chronograph worn in Top Gun: Maverick / Credit: Paramount

After more than 30 years since its initial release, Top Gun: Maverick was released in 2022. Tom Cruise, also known as Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell, is back again to train a detachment of flight school graduates for a special assignment. For his appearance, Tom Cruise was accompanied by his Orfina x Porsche Design Chronograph that was worn in the initial Top Gun movie from 1986.

A 1970s Porsche Design Orfina Chronograph, like the one worn by Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick / Credit: Revolution Watch

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Going back to the early 1970s, Porsche Design introduced its first model, an all-black chronograph which was inspired by the Porsche 911. It is important to note this was the first all-black watch ever for the time, which started the PVD trend. The Orfina Porsche Design Chronograph I used the legendary Valjoux 7750 and also used the Lemania 5100. This would be the same watch that can be found in both Top Gun releases, worn by Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell.

Robert ‘Bob’ Floyd wearing his Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor (SFTI) watch / Credit: Paramount

In Top Gun: Maverick, several of the up-and-coming fighter pilots can be seen wearing IWC watches as well. The cast seen wearing them are Robert ‘Bob’ Floyd, Natasha 'Phoenix' Trace, and Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw. Early in the film, Tom Cruise, or Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell, is introduced to these aviators at a Navy dive bar where we get to have a better understanding of the psyche of the fighter jet pilots. Highly competitive, capable, and with good taste in watches, these are the aviators that have advanced to be in the top 1% of Navy pilots.

The IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition ‘Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor’ ref. IW389004

The watches seen are only available to graduates of the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School in real life. That’s right, Top Gun is actually based on the real TOPGUN school of the United States Navy. TOPGUN is simply an abbreviation for the tactical department of the fighter squadron 21, created for the Navy’s elite flight combat training school.

TOPGUN is one of 12 departments of the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center, which is located at Naval Air Station Fallon, in Nevada. This specific program is 13 weeks long, and only accepts 1% of all naval pilots. The formal name of the training program is the Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program (SFTI).

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IWC has a special relationship with the Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program. They have been equipping graduates of this program with two SFTI models for some time: the IWC Mark XVIII and its chronograph variations.

The IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition ‘Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor’ (ref. IW389004) features the IWC 89361 movement. The chronograph displays the hours and minutes elapsed in its sub-dial at 12 o’clock, while also including a flyback function. But most importantly, displays the iconic patch of the Navy Fighter Weapons School.

The other IWC Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor watch that can be seen is the IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Edition (ref. IW324705). The caseback is made from automotive titanium 5N, which is durable, light, and skin friendly. On the caseback, similar to the IWC ref. IW389004, there is an engraving of the watch owner’s name and class.

IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Edition ‘Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor’ ref. IW324705 / Credit: IWC

Although no pictures have surfaced online yet, there is a clear closeup shot of an IWC pocket chronograph towards the end of the movie as well. Whether your interest is vintage Porsche 911s, fighter jets, motorcycles, or watch spotting, this movie has a bit of everything for everyone. Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Monica Barbaro, and Glen Powell actually learned to fly real fighter jets for this movie. Tom Cruise, who is famous for doing his own stunt work, delivered again on creating a highly realistic cinematic experience…right down to the watches worn by the cast.

By: Eric Mulder