New Release: The IWC Pilots Watch Chronograph Performance Watches

Indulgent and sporty, the grade 5 titanium and Ceratanium case options of the new Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Performance watches are combined with a glossy black dial and a black ceramic tachymeter scale for effortless stopwatch timings in and around the race track. Both models celebrate the brand’s partnership with Mercedes-AMG and Percedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team.

Believe it or not, there was a time when racing drivers relied on their wristwatches to record lap times and pit stops. Of course, the advancements in technology have offered up a whole host of equipment that can compete with the fast-paced atmosphere out on the racetrack, yet wristwatches have never lost their place on the wrist. Why is that? Against the odds and proving the pessimistic thinkers of the world wrong, luxury watches have stood the test of time.

Despite a culture where phones and laptops are literally glued to us humans, it’s hard to think back to a time when watches were all we had. Still, the classic wristwatch sits contently on our wrist without any real worry of ever being replaced. That’s thanks to manufacturers like IWC. The Swiss brand has been manufacturing authentic timepieces since 1868 and remains one of the oldest in the industry. It has enjoyed a deep-seated connection with pilot’s tools but has connections to the motorsport world that many don’t know about. In fact, it has been the official partner of Mercedes-AMG since 2004 and the “Official Engineering Partner” of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team since 2013.

In the past, it has been IWC watches like the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph and the Big Pilot’s Watch that have linked the brand to its responsibility in the motorsport world. Now all that changes with the release of four new Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Performance models.

Geared Up and Ready for the Las Vegas Grand Prix

The key difference between the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph and the Performance models is that the Performance watches are equipped with a black ceramic bezel adorned with a legible tachymeter scale. Primed for races on the track, these new stealthy-looking instruments are fine tuned to the wearer and have been released as a celebration of the brand’s partnership with AMG and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. The models are geared up and ready for the Las Vegas Grand Prix racing event, which began on the 16th of November 2023. Christian Knoop, Chief Design Officer of IWC Schaffhausen shares his excitement about the new design;

“Derived from the iconic look of the IWC Pilot’s Chronograph, we’ve designed highly technical and powerful timepieces that are inspired by motorsports. High-tech materials, machined and finished to the highest precision standards, create an attractive contrast between matte and polished surfaces. This interplay extends across various watch elements. The black dials showcase an exceptional level of craftsmanship and attention to detail, with truly stunning sculptural refinement and finishing.”

Racing-ready design features

Although the four new Pilot’s Watch Chronograph performance watches all share the same 41mm diameter, they come in two case material options. One is a lightweight grade 5 titanium. These go by the references of IW388304 and IW388305. You can choose between a matching grade 5 titanium bracelet or a black rubber strap. Of course, the lightness of the ergonomic titanium case is perfect for hour-upon-hour of racing. The other two models are crafted from the company’s proprietary Ceratanium. The material promises the integrity and the lightness of titanium but with a scratch resistance that is on par with ceramic. The Ceratanium is black but not completely black, creating a tactical matte finish that is achieved by firing the material in a kiln. These two options (reference IW388306 and IW388307) are also offered on a bracelet in a matching Ceratanium material or a black rubber band. The rest of the features in the four new models are the same.

The new IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Performance watches feature a slightly different dial compared to other models in the range. Instead of featuring a matte black dial, the new displays are black lacquered, creating a high-end glossy background for a set of Super-LumoiNova-coated hands and a legible Arabic numeral hour track. The hands are powered around the dial by the IWC-manufactured 69385 Caliber. It features a column wheel construction and comprises 33 jewels. In addition to this, it performs at a rate of 28,800 vibrations and provides an impressive power reserve of 46 hours when fully wound.

Now more tailored to the wrists of racing drivers and those with a love for the sport, the model’s tachymeter scale is ideal for measuring speed based on distance. The markings on the ceramic scale are incredibly clear for meticulous timings. Altogether, each model is home to some 20 hand-polished appliques and hand-finished totalisers for perfect stopwatch timings. These include a small seconds sub-dial at 6 o’clock, a 12-hour totaliser at 9 o’clock and a 30-minute counter at 12 o’clock. The remaining space at 3 o’clock is occupied by a day-date function. In the Ceratanium models, this feature and the small seconds hand are executed in a sporty bluey-green hue.

Both models sit at a depth of 14.8mm and have a 100-meter water-resistant rating. Whereas the surface of the titanium models has been brushed, the Ceratanium IWC watches have a completely matte finish. If you’d like to learn more about the new IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Performance watches, you can check the new range out here, or call and speak to a member of our Jura Watches sales team today on 01335 453453.