Hands-On: IWC Pilot Chronograph Top Gun Lake Tahoe IW389105 in White Ceramic

Writing about watches is a unique experience and a multi- layered activity. During the process, you reinforce what you already know about watches in general and always discover something new, whether an original technical feature or a fresh design approach. Also, you often revisit things to take a fresh perspective on whether anything has changed over time and to find out whether a particular watch has stood the test of time and remains interesting to horology lovers.

By far the best revisits come when one gets hands-on experience with a watch they previously reviewed, especially if it made a particularly great first impression. Revisiting the IWC Top Gun Special Edition “Lake Tahoe” IW389105 is one of those special occasions. This time, it was meeting in person and spending enough time together to get the real-world look and full user experience.

IWC Pilot Chronograph TOP GUN Lake Tahoe IW389105 effortlessly conforms to unusual combinations. Here, paired with a Quick Release FKM26 Slate Blue Rubber Strap for a superbly smooth tactile feel.

A Few Years Ago

My first encounter with IWC Top Gun Lake Tahoe was back in 2022, when its release was announced to accompany the worldwide broadcasting of the Top Gun sequel. Here's the link to the article that came as a result of collecting all the data that was available on this great watch at that moment: Top Gun Special Edition Lake Tahoe IW389105, the Marvelous New IWC Pilot Watch.

The article describes all the features of the IWC Lake Tahoe, including all references to the Top Gun movie it pays tribute to. Now, after five years of waiting for the moment to come, I finally had the pleasure of experiencing firsthand what it feels and looks like to wear it. Here are all phases of this one-of-a-kind experience, from the first time seeing it live to wearing it on the wrist on several different occasions.

The soft, smooth case of the IWC TOP GUN Lake Tahoe IW389105 invites pairings with soft leather straps. On this occasion, a great match is an Orange Alcantara Fabric Watch Strap, suitable for business settings.

First impressions, for the second time

The moment IWC Lake Tahoe arrived and I unpacked it, the first surprise happened. Although I was well aware of its dimensions and expected a dominant size, seeing it in person still came as a bit of a shock. It's huge, and the reason it appears even bigger is not the case diameter but rather its thickness, which is 15.7mm. The second thing that went through my mind was whether I would be able to wear it at all, given that I'm not that big a guy. I'll discuss Lake Tahoe's wearability in detail later.

IWC Pilot Chronograph Lake Tahoe is, first and foremost, a highly elegant watch. Matching it with an equally stylish strap, such as a Q.R. Grey Suede Leather Watch Strap, comes and feels perfectly natural. And the outcome is just as expected, pure class. 

Now, more on the aesthetics. The black-and-white contrast of the dial looks even more striking in person. The white color used is truly special, looks somewhat matte and increasingly elegant, a perfect combination for a genuinely masculine watch. The texture of the ceramics adds to this impression, leaving a satin-like feel and making it a pleasure to look at. Furthermore, when I touched it for the first time, I immediately felt it would be very comfortable to wear.

And this intuition did not fail me. The first vote in favor of IWC Lake Tahoe's great wearability comes from the included strap. Despite being thicker than standard straps, it feels light and comfortable; the rubber it's made of is soft, with a dominant, textile-like pattern that elevates the gentle feel on the wrist. The strap's shade of white perfectly matches the case color, enhancing the overall black-and-white aesthetic, a strong signature of the watch.

Wearability of the IWC Lake Tahoe Top Gun Special Edition

My initial concern about whether I could wear it at all, given its size, instantly disappeared when I put it on my wrist. Yes, it is hefty and dominant, but thanks to the smooth finish and gentle feel of the steel caseback and its weight of only 137.2g, IWC Lake Tahoe wears like a breeze. On the first day, I wore it for a stroll that lasted a couple of hours, and left it on overnight (like when we were kids and slept with our new toy).

Ever since, I took it off only during showers and my swimming practices, given its modest waterproofness. It easily becomes a natural extension of the body, both thanks to its construction and the superbly comfy white rubber strap it comes with. On the other hand, this supremely elegant combo somewhat feels out of place in less formal settings. Luckily, IWC Lake Tahoe's aesthetics and wrist presence welcome a wide range of combinations, with replacement straps that suit almost any setting effortlessly and naturally.

Now, this is a truly unusual combination. IWC Lake Tahoe IW389105 paired with a Heavy Distressed Blue Denim Rivet Pilot Strap. However, the rebel touch of this interesting strap, the comfort it provides, and the eclectic vibe the combo radiates have proven to look and feel great in all casual daily activities.

Taking IWC Top Gun for a spin

Unfortunately,  it wasn't a spin over Lake Tahoe, but maybe that'll happen one day, too. Until then, I took the watch for a spin on several different occasions. Here's what I (and others) noticed.

First of all, there wasn't an occasion I took it to that it didn't grab the attention of the people I spoke to. It happened as a rule, and in quite different settings. Our first appearance was at one of the parties that the company I work for organizes a couple of times a year. This time, the dress code was white, and it was a perfect occasion for the Lake Tahoe premiere. It fitted my white shirt and cargo pants perfectly, as expected given its design.

Next time, I took it for an evening stroll with my sister, whom I hadn't seen in a couple of months. This time, I wore casual clothing, and she immediately noticed my IWC Lake Tahoe. This was a genuine surprise, since she's not a horology fan at all and has never before really noticed or complimented any of the other watches I own.

A black strap on a black-and-white case makes it fit an elegant or casual style alike. IWC Pilot Chronograph TOP GUN Lake Tahoe IW389105 with a Black Woven Texture Rivet Pilot Strap. Not only does it look good, but its textured surface also makes it flexible and highly comfortable for prolonged wearability.

The third occasion I'd like to mention is when I went out for drinks with my friends, wearing my usual autumn outing combination: jumper and jeans.  Mike, the owner of the cafe we regularly go to, and some of the guests, people I met for the first time, stopped to ask about the watch, wondering where I got it and what model and brand it was. A similar thing happened only once before in my 3-decade history of wearing different watches.

Wearing an IWC TOP GUN Lake Tahoe with a sweater and jeans? When you pair it with a suitable strap, such as the soft and durable Tan Khaki Suede Leather Watch Strap, it looks and feels perfect. 

To Conclude

You never get the chance to make the second first impression. Well, it turns out not to be true in this case. It was well worth the wait, and IWC Lake Tahoe proved to be everything I hoped for. It is masculine and dominant, yet soft and very comfortable to wear for prolonged periods, provided it is paired with its original strap or matched with the right replacement one. The great thing is that there are many of those available, making this watch a go-to choice for any occasion. With due care, the IWC Pilot Chronograph Lake Tahoe Top Gun easily becomes a lifelong companion.