IWC's Classic Pilot's Watch Gets the Full F1 Treatment
IWC is taking its famed Pilot’s Watch to the racetrack with the launch of two instant-classic timepieces that live up to their extensive, barely indecipherable names: the Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41 Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, and the Pilot's Watch Performance Chronograph 41 Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team.
IWC and Mercedes-AMG have been partners since 2004, with the Swiss luxury manufacturer becoming the “Official Engineering Partner” of the German automaker’s Petronas Formula One team in 2013. The release of these watches thus makes some sense—preceded by a colorful chronograph with a similar name just last year. Still, these are more than just two new additions to the brand’s quintessential chronograph lineup.
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While still technically part of IWC’s Pilot’s Collection, these two new "Performance Chronograph" models are clearly racing-inspired and sport a variety of Mercedes-AMG co-branding as well as black ceramic bezels with a tachymeter scale that allows wearers to measure average speed.
The intro edition Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41 Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team starts at $8,350 and comes in titanium on a rubber strap—upgradable to a titanium bracelet for a few thousand more ($11,700).
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The level-up Pilot's Watch Performance Chronograph 41 Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team is rendered in IWC’s proprietary Ceratanium (black titanium) alloy that takes on ceramic properties after undergoing a thermal treatment process. On the rubber strap, it's priced at $13,700, jumping to $19,900 when on the Ceratanium bracelet. This model also features a variety of Petronas Blue touches, giving it that racing team feel.
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Outside of material and those splashes of teal, the watches sport the same specs: 41mm diameter, 14.8mm thickness, and 100 meters of water resistance. Similar to other Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 models, it uses an IWC caliber 69385 movement with a power reserve of approximately 46 hours.
While certainly featuring a lot of similarities to IWC’s Pilot’s watches, the addition of the black tachymeter bezel gives these two timepieces a new F1 racing-inspired feel that pairs perfectly with the brand’s longtime automotive partner.