Article reposted with permission from IWC
IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN PAYS TRIBUTE TO MOTORSPORT WITH THE LIMITED BIG PILOT’S WATCH IWC RACING WORKS
Schaffhausen/Dubai/Shanghai, 20 April 2023: To honour its passion for motorsport, IWC Schaffhausen launches a racing-inspired edition of the iconic Big Pilot’s Watch. The Big Pilot’s Watch IWC Racing Works features a lightweight grade 5 titanium case, a blue dial, and a matching blue calf leather strap. It is powered by the IWC-manufactured 52110 calibre with a 7-day power reserve. Limited to 500 pieces, the model will be available exclusively at IWC’s flagship boutiques in Zurich, Dubai, and Shanghai.
With the Big Pilot’s Watch IWC Racing Works (Ref. IW501019), IWC pays tribute to its long-standing connection to motorsport. After entering a partnership with Mercedes-AMG in 2004, the Swiss luxury watch manufacturer also became the official engineering partner of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1™ Team in 2013. IWC even established its own classic racing team, IWC Racing, in 2018. The worlds of motorsport and racing can be experienced in IWC’s flagship boutiques in Zurich, Dubai, and Shanghai.
“Racing and engineering are such an integral part of IWC’s DNA. We are therefore excited to bring IWC Racing to life with a racing-inspired version of the Big Pilot’s Watch – one of our most iconic models. This limited edition captivates with its grade 5 titanium case and the bold, sporty design with a blue dial in a subdued look,” explains IWC CEO Christoph Grainger-Herr.
A SIGNATURE IWC MATERIAL
The Big Pilot’s Watch IWC Racing Works features a case, crown and case back made of grade 5 titanium. IWC pioneered titanium in the watch industry in the 1980s when the company introduced the first wristwatch with a titanium case and bracelet. Over the years, IWC has continuously expanded the use of this light and robust metal. Grade 5 titanium is about 45 percent lighter than steel and remarkably rigid. Thanks to its high strength-to-density ratio, it is widely used in motorsport to manufacture components of highperformance engines. Other essential characteristics of titanium for watches are its skin-friendliness and attractive matte grey colour. The titanium case back is engraved with the IWC Racing Works logo.
A blue dial with muted white numerals complements the distinctively technical look of the 46.2-millimetre titanium case. The date display sits at “6 o’clock” and the power-reserve indication can be found at “3 o’clock”. Luminescent indices and hands ensure optimum legibility. The embossed structure on the blue calf leather strap underlines the sporty appeal of the timepiece.
A MOVEMENT FOCUSED ON PERFORMANCE
The Big Pilot’s Watch IWC Racing Works is powered by the IWC-manufactured 52110 calibre. This automatic movement has been engineered with a strict focus on performance and reliability. The bi-directional Pellaton winding system builds up a power reserve of seven days in two barrels. Components that are subject to particularly high stresses are manufactured from virtually wear-free zirconium oxide ceramic. A soft-iron inner case effectively shields the movement from the effects of magnetic fields.
MOTORSPORT AND RACING IN THE FLAGSHIP BOUTIQUES
IWC’s passion for motorsport can be experienced in the boutiques in Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, and China. As the global home of IWC’s racing team, the Zurich boutique commemorates the early years of motorsport. The visual centrepiece is the iconic Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Gullwing” with which the IWC Racing team has repeatedly lined up on the grid of selected classic car races. The IWC boutique at the Dubai Mall is themed around the brand’s longstanding partnership with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team. The entrance area features a genuine F1 car, once piloted by IWC brand ambassador Lewis Hamilton. In IWC’s largest flagship boutique in Shanghai, flying cars from IWC’s partner Airspeeder showcase the passion for engineering, innovation, and pioneering technical solutions for the future of mobility
The Big Pilot’s Watch IWC Racing Works is limited to 500 pieces. It will first be available exclusively in the flagship stores in Zurich, Dubai, and Shanghai. Later, it will be available in selected IWC boutiques and online at IWC.com. The timepiece is eligible for registration under the My IWC care program, benefitting from a 6-year extension to the standard 2-year International Limited Warranty.
BIG PILOT’S WATCH IWC RACING WORKS
REF. IW501019
FEATURES
Mechanical movement – Pellaton automatic winding – Power reserve display – Date display – Soft-iron inner case for protection against magnetic fields – Screw-in crown – Glass secured against displacement by drops in air pressure – Limited to 500 watches
MOVEMENT
IWC-manufactured calibre | 52110 |
Frequency | 28,800 vph / 4 Hz |
Jewels | 31 |
Power reserve | 7 days / 168 h |
Winding | Automatic |
WATCH
Materials | Titanium case, blue dial with luminescence, grey hands, blue calf leather strap |
Glass | Sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sides |
Water-resistant | 10 bar |
Diameter | 46.2 mm |
Height | 15.4 mm |
IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN
IWC Schaffhausen is a leading Swiss luxury watch manufacturer based in Schaffhausen in the north-eastern part of Switzerland. With collections like the Portugieser and the Pilot’s Watches, the brand covers the whole spectrum from elegant to sports watches. Founded in 1868 by the American watchmaker and engineer Florentine Ariosto Jones, IWC is known for its unique engineering approach to watchmaking, combining the best of human craftsmanship and creativity with cutting-edge technology and processes.
Over its more than 150-year history, IWC has earned a reputation for creating professional instrument watches and functional complications, especially chronographs and calendars, which are ingenious, robust, and easy for customers to use. A pioneer in the use of titanium and ceramics, IWC today specialises in highly engineered watch cases manufactured from advanced materials, such as coloured ceramics, Ceratanium®, and titanium aluminide.
A leader in sustainable luxury watchmaking, IWC sources materials responsibly and takes action to minimise its impact on the environment. Along the pillars of transparency, circularity, and responsibility, the brand crafts timepieces built to last for generations and continuously improves every element of how it manufactures, distributes, and services its products in the most responsible way. IWC also partners with organisations that work globally to support children and young people.