Right in time for the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix that will take place next weekend, IWC Schaffhausen is introducing two performance chronographs dedicated to its motorsport partners Mercedes-AMG and the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team. Crafted from titanium or Ceratanium, the new Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41 combines IWC’s expertise in chronographs and advanced materials. A distinguishing feature is a ceramic bezel with a tachymeter scale, enabling the wearer to measure the average speed based on the distance traveled. Black dials with a glossy finish, recessed totalizers, applied indices, and numerals filled with Super-LumiNova complement the sleek design. All four models are powered by the IWC-manufactured 69385 calibre and are water-resistant to 100 meters.
The performance ethos that is expressed through IWC’s products is also reflected in two of its longest-standing partnerships. In 2004, the Swiss luxury watch manufacturer became a partner of Mercedes-AMG, the performance car subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz. As a logical continuation, IWC became the “Official Engineering Partner” of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team in 2013. The Swiss luxury watch manufacturer is now launching two performance chronographs dedicated to its motorsport partners.
Mercedes-AMG is the performance and sports car brand of Mercedes-Benz Cars based in Affalterbach, Germany. Driven by the fascination of motorsports Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher founded the company in 1967. Since 2005 Mercedes-AMG GmbH has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler AG representing the sporting spearhead of the company with a wide range of models ranging from performance compact cars up to true sports cars like the AMG GT family.
Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team is the works team of Mercedes-AMG, competing at the pinnacle of motorsport —the FIA Formula One World Championship. Formula One is a sport like no other. Combining elite teamwork, cutting-edge technologies and innovation, high-performance management, and exceptional driving skills, teams develop race cars capable of competing against their rivals in a high-octane environment that spans upwards of 20 races across five continents throughout each season.
The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team has race cars that are driven by seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton and Grand Prix winner, George Russell. Winning seven consecutive double Drivers’ and Constructors’ World Championships from 2014 to 2020 and securing a record-breaking eighth consecutive Constructors’ Championship success in 2021, the Team is one of the most successful in the sport’s history. Between returning as a Constructor in 2010 and the end of the 2022 season, the Mercedes-AMG works team has scored 116 wins, 264 podium finishes, 128 pole positions, 91 fastest laps, and 54 one-two finishes from 259 race starts.
Things to Know About the Watches
An outstanding functional feature of the Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41 is the ceramic bezel with a tachymeter scale, which allows the wearer to measure the average speed in relation to the distance traveled. Pushing the chronograph’s start button initiates a measurement. Once a distance of one kilometer has been covered, the chronograph is stopped. The central chronograph seconds hand will point to a number on the rotating tachymeter scale, corresponding to the average speed in kilometers per hour.
Matching the polished black ceramic bezels, all models feature black dials with a glossy finish and black hands. The recessed totalizers and the applied indices and numerals, in blackened nickel, filled with Super-LumiNova, provide additional depth and ensure excellent night-time readability. The manufacturing of this intricate dial represents a feat of craftsmanship and finishing. The polished black lacquer finish is the result of an elaborate, highly controlled, and perfected production process. The three totalizers are individually finished and printed before they are mounted on the lacquered base plate to create the final dial. The approximately 20 appliques are individually polished by hand, fixed to the dial, and then filled with luminous material.
All versions of the Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41 are powered by the IWC-manufactured 69385 calibre movement. Comprising 242 parts, this mechanical automatic chronograph movement has been engineered with an uncompromising focus on robustness, reliability, and precision. Its bi-directional pawl winding system builds up a power reserve of 46 hours. Column-wheel control of the chronograph ensures that individual phases in the switching sequence are clearly defined. There is also a distinct tactile resistance when the buttons are pushed. The chronograph features IWC’s characteristic vertical subdial arrangement. The stopped minutes are displayed directly at the 12 o’clock position, enhancing readability. The assembly of these movements at IWC’s Manufakturzentrum is organized in a dedicated line. Dividing the process into several smaller steps is paramount for achieving the best possible quality. After assembly and regulation, all movement functions are tested automatically over 12 days in the FIM —Final Inspection Movement cell developed by IWC.
In addition, all four new timepieces are eligible for registration under the My IWC Care Program and can benefit from a 6-year extension to the standard 2-year International Limited Warranty.
“The Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41 combines our extensive know-how in developing industry-leading chronographs with our comprehensive expertise in advanced materials. Both these new chronographs feature ceramic bezels with tachymeter scales, adding the dimension of speed to the highly accurate stop time measurements and making these robust chronographs the perfect companions for people with a dynamic, fast-paced lifestyle.” Christoph Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen.
IWC Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41 AMG
The Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41 AMG (Ref. IW388305/04) features a case, crown, and pushers crafted from robust and lightweight titanium. IWC pioneered this hard-to-machine metal in the watch industry in 1980 when it released the first wristwatch with a titanium case and bracelet. IWC had acquired the specific know-how for machining titanium in close collaboration with French aerospace company Aérospatiale. Offering the highest strength-to-density ratio of any metal, titanium is frequently used in automotive engineering to manufacture components for high-performance engines. The grade 5 titanium alloy used for the Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41 case is around 45% lighter than steel and remarkably rigid. The case features a brushed finish with polished details on the horns. One version is fitted with a robust, waterproof black rubber strap (Ref. IW388305), while the other version (Ref. IW388304) features a titanium bracelet with H-links and an integrated folding clasp.
Sticker Price $9,800 USD on a strap and $11,700 USD on a bracelet. For more info on IWC click here.
IWC Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41 Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team
The Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41 Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team (Ref. IW388306/07) features a case made of Ceratanium. Developed by IWC, this material combines the lightness and structural integrity of titanium with a hardness and scratch resistance similar to ceramic. The lightweight material is based on a special titanium alloy forged to IWC’s specifications. The case components are machined from bars using computer-controlled turning and milling centers. Afterward, they are elaborately finished by hand and fired in a kiln at high temperatures. During this firing process, a phase transformation occurs, and the material’s surface obtains properties similar to ceramic and its striking matte black finish. One version is fitted with a black rubber strap with a Ceratanium pin buckle (Ref. IW388306). The other version features a Ceratanium bracelet with an integrated folding clasp (Ref. IW388307).
Sticker Price $13,700 USD on a strap and $19,900 USD on a bracelet. For more info on IWC click here.
