New Release
India Whiskey Charlie introduces the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch IWC Racing Works, a limited edition timepiece that underscores IWC Schaffhausen's deep-rooted connection to motorsport. This article delves into the watch's technical specifications and design elements, highlighting how IWC translates its racing partnerships into horological expressions. Readers will gain insight into the brand's use of advanced materials and its commitment to performance-driven watchmaking.
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.
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 high-performance 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 long-standing 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.
The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch IWC Racing Works, reference IW501019, is a limited edition within the brand's extensive Big Pilot's collection, designed to commemorate IWC's involvement in motorsport. This specific model integrates design cues and materials associated with high-performance racing, distinguishing it from standard production Big Pilot's references through its material composition and aesthetic.
This timepiece features a 46.2-millimetre case crafted from grade 5 titanium, a material chosen for its light weight and rigidity, commonly employed in motorsport engineering. It houses the IWC-manufactured 52110 calibre, an automatic movement equipped with a bi-directional Pellaton winding system, providing a seven-day power reserve. The blue dial is complemented by muted white numerals, with a date display at 6 o’clock and a power-reserve indication at 3 o’clock. The titanium case back is engraved with the IWC Racing Works logo.
As a limited edition of 500 pieces, the IW501019 holds particular interest for collectors focused on IWC's thematic releases and those appreciating the technical application of advanced materials. Its exclusive distribution through select flagship boutiques further positions it as a targeted acquisition for enthusiasts of both IWC and motorsport-inspired horology.
what does a Pilot-Watch have to do with car racing ...
they talk about... flying cars
Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team, it's obviously about the future of flying ...
the spiritual home of motor racing
but is there any difference between this and the Petite Prince except for a titanium case? Too bad they only offer at those 3 international boutiques.
Also, comparing them both on the IWC website, the blue dial of this new version looks like a normal/matte blue, instead of the shiny blue Petite Prince. But that is just the pics.
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