Battle of the Pilot Titans: BP 5009 Vs Pilot Double Chrono 3778

With the Year of the Pilots upon us, there now appears to be two contenders for the heavy weight championship 46 mm stainless steel case with alligator leather folding clasp straps:
- Big Pilot 5009
- Pilot Double Chronograph 3778
The BP has a huge following (and rightly so) on this forum and boasts in-house (Breguet spring)automatic 7 days movement with date. The 3778 has both day & date plus chronograph (to 12 hours) with ETA Valjoux movement.
Do we have a contest?

Well, here are some comparison pics I took at SIHH.

This one compares the Doppel to my BPP.

Alan, great shots of interesting comparison.

Hi David,

both are classics - so both have a place in any pilot collection in my opinion.

but if pushed to choose between the two, I choose the 5009 without hesitation. That amazing crown, and the hommage to the original B-Uhr.

apologies - forgotten whose pic this is !

That is why you need to own both.

+1

hmmmm... i hope this counts (at least in part !) LOL.

I forgot. A twist. But definite qualification. And, at least you have a "nine".
So now just get the Spitfire Perpetual date/Month !!

my vote goes for the 5009 in this case... there's just a real 'boldness' and 'purity' to the BP. beauty in simplicity at times...

best,
thang

I almost forgot about the 3778 Double Chrono. The picture shows a really tough looking yet elegant watch. I guess this one makes quite an appearance on anybody's wrist, drawing the eye irresistibly. A very successful design, a worthy successor of the previous one.

Kind regards,
Paul

Paul,
I agree. I already have the blue dial Carlson and the 2mm smaller DFB version but I still can't get over how good this one looks on the wrist.

The question is probably - which one first? Both these watches are very much IWC at its best - and both fit perfectly well in any collecton.

against that - have a collection of only 2 IWC's then Adding the double to the BP and you already have a "mean collection".

Great post fellows.

Best regards
Mark

Does the new bracelet, like of the Spitfire Chrono, fit the Double Chrono? I guess it is not only the lug size, but also the curve of the case, but who knows.

Kind regards,
Paul