IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition.
Although wrist-worn chronographs are no longer used in motor-racing, their link to motorsports is as strong as ever.
Chronographs also hark back to the early days of aviation. They reflect a forgotten time and a sense of adventure.
But the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition and IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Edition reflect more than just speed or aviation.
These IWC timepieces pay homage to the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, which has won the Formula 1 Constructor’s Championship six years in a row.
IWC BIG PILOT’S WATCH PERPETUAL CALENDAR EDITION
Limited to just 10 pieces, the Perpetual Calendar Edition timepiece has a matte black zirconium oxide ceramic case. Sapphire glass covers the caseback and the dial, which has a diameter of 46.5mm, is made from carbon fibre.
Ceramic and carbon fibre are found on the Mercedes F1 racecar.
The watch’s striking contrast hue is called Petronas Emerald Green. As seen in the image, it is used to mark the numbers, hands, indices and stitching on the strap.
The Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Edition has a clear caseback.
Powering the IWC Perpetual Calendar Edition is the 52615 Calibre, which has a power reserve of 168 hours or one week. This self-winding movement features 54 jewels and a frequency of 28,800 vph.
The calendar automatically detects the number of days in a month. It also adds an extra day in February every four years. IWC claims that the calendar won’t need to be adjusted till 2100.
This timepiece is water-resistant to 60m (6 bar) and only 10 pieces will be produced.
IWC PILOT’S WATCH CHRONOGRAPH EDITION
Like the Perpetual Calendar timepiece, the Chronograph Edition also has a black ceramic case and a carbon fibre dial. It’s also water resistant to 60 metres.
The Petronas Emerald Green accents, however, are limited to the stitching and small seconds dial. There’s an hours and minutes counter at the 12 o’clock position. The flyback function on this watch is particularly useful. It lets you reset and start timing again.
Now, unlike the Perpetual Calendar, the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition only has a 68-hour power reserve. That’s almost three days, though, so it’s still useful.
The “engine” in this timepiece is IWC’s 39361 Calibre. Consisting of 299 components, this movement has 38 jewels and a frequency of 28,800 vph.
For the IWC enthusiast who’s also a die-hard Mercedes-AMG F1 fan, acquiring this watch won’t be easy. That’s because only 50 pieces will be made.
Well, that makes this timepiece five times more accessible than the Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Edition.
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