Luxury watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen unveils the Big Pilot's Watch Constant-Force Tourbillon, a new addition to its high-end collection.
Hoodwink your wallet: IWC Schaffhausen and Mercedes-AMG join forces to release a jaw-dropping timepiece
Swiss luxury watch purveyor IWC Schaffhausen and high-performance automobile manufacturer Mercedes-AMG have teamed up to create the Big Pilot's Watch Constant-Force Tourbillon Edition, exclusively for the owners of the upcoming Mercedes-AMG ONE. This masterpiece of engineering boasts striking aesthetics that draw inspiration from the car's sleek design.
Elevating the art of wristwatch-making
The titanium aluminide (TiAl) case in this timepiece is a colossal feat for horological engineering. TiAl, an advanced high-tech material typically favored in high-performance engines due to its high-temperature resistance and use in motorsport, presents significant challenges during its production.
The watch's IWC-manufactured 94800 calibre is a manually wound mechanism with a whopping 96-hour power store in its twin barrels. The fully blackened movement is transparent through the sapphire glass back, crafted from Ceratanium®, a special titanium alloy that's as light and rigid as titanium yet as hard and scratch-resistant as ceramic.
Bringing Formula 1TM to the masses
Mercedes-AMG is turning the dream of racing engineers everywhere into a reality, as they transfer technology from F1 motor tracks to the common streets with their upcoming two-seater hypercar. The hybrid vehicle, capable of producing 1,000 horsepower at a top speed of over 350 km/h, showcases the latest, most efficient high-class motor technology.
Christoph Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen, on the partnership:
"Mercedes-AMG ONE sets a new precedent in automotive engineering. The fact that Formula 1TM technology exists outside the racing track in the usual urban context blows my mind. Naturally, we wanted to complement its unveiling with a timepiece that exemplifies the pinnacle of watchmaking and material science. By combining one of our most advanced movements and complications with high-end performance materials such as titanium aluminide (TiAl) and Ceratanium®, we helped create a true masterpiece."
Flaunting titanium aluminide and Petronas green
The case of the watch—ornately finished with polished and sandblasted surfaces—is made of titanium aluminide (TiAl), a material that's lighter and harder than conventional titanium and highly resistant to corrosion. IWC, one of the few watch manufacturers capable of crafting a case in titanium aluminide, has embraced the challenge.
A constant-force tourbillon graces the watch's 9 o'clock position on the black dial. The dial also features a double moon phase display for the northern and southern hemispheres and a power reserve display at 4 o'clock, reminiscent of a tachometer. The outer dial ring takes cues from the air inlets on the Mercedes-AMG ONE, with a louvered, ring-shaped structure.
Petronas green—the signature color of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula OneTM team—is showcased as the transition between the polished and sandblasted parts of the case, as well as dial and movement accents. The watch is distinguished by a two-tone rubber strap (black on the outside and Petronas green on the inside) made using a multi-component injection molding process. Mercedes stars in Petronas green are visible on the outer side of the strap.
So, there you have it, folks. If you fancy yourself a lucky owner of the Mercedes-AMG ONE, be on the lookout for information on how to acquire The Big Pilot's Watch Constant-Force Tourbillon Edition.
- The Big Pilot's Watch Constant-Force Tourbillon Edition, a collaboration between IWC Schaffhausen and Mercedes-AMG, showcases cutting-edge technology from both the automotive and watchmaking industries.
- Flaunting titanium aluminide and Petronas green, this exclusive timepiece boasts striking aesthetics that draw inspiration from the sleek design of the Mercedes-AMG ONE.
- The use of titanium aluminide (TiAl), a material typically favored in high-performance engines due to its high-temperature resistance and use in motorsport, presents significant challenges during its production.
- As Mercedes-AMG transfers Formula 1 technology from race tracks to the common streets with their upcoming two-seater hypercar, IWC Schaffhausen aims to complement its unveiling with a timepiece that exemplifies the pinnacle of watchmaking and material science.
