IWC Schaffhausen and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team unveil extra-lightweight and durable watch

IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN AND THE MERCEDES-AMG PETRONAS F1 TEAM LAUNCH OFFICIAL TEAM WATCH.

As the eyes of the motorsport world turned to Florida for the inaugural Miami Grand Prix, IWC Schaffhausen and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team have unveiled the team’s first-ever official team watch. Crafted from lightweight and durable grade 5 titanium, the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Edition “Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team” features a black dial with printing and luminescence in the team’s signature Petronas green colour.

IWC Schaffhausen has been the official engineering partner of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team since 2013, a productive partnership spanning eight Formula One Constructors’ Championships. IWC CEO Chris Grainger-Herr and Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Principal & CEO Toto Wolff today announced the result of their most recent collaboration: for the first time in their longstanding partnership, IWC has developed an official watch for the team. This watch will be worn by the team, including designers, aerodynamicists, race engineers, strategists and mechanics.

“We’re delighted to unveil the first official team watch we’ve developed with IWC,” said Toto Wolff, Team Principal & CEO of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. “It underscores the spirit of unity and the sense of belonging within our team and is a testament to the relationship we have built with IWC over the last decade. I am looking forward to seeing the watch being worn by members of the team trackside in Miami this weekend.”

Chris Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen said: “Both fine watchmaking and racing are all about precision, craftsmanship and performance engineering. But it’s the human factor – the passion the love and the dedication that make all the difference between good and great. This notion perfectly describes our long-standing partnership with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team and we are celebrating this partnership with the launch of the new team watch in Miami.”

Powered by the IWC-manufactured 69385 calibre movement, the chronograph comes with two straps in calfskin and rubber that can be exchanged quickly and easily thanks to the integrated EasX-CHANGE system. The team watch is available for purchase exclusively online. To celebrate this new endeavour, both team cars featured the IWC logo on the halo of the W13 race car for the Miami race.

The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Edition “Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team” (Ref. IW388108) is crafted from lightweight and remarkably rigid grade 5 titanium. Offering the highest strength-to-density ratio of any metal, titanium is also widely used in automotive engineering to produce car parts subject to immense stresses, such as engine valves. In addition, titanium is also highly corrosion-resistant. After machining and sandblasting, the surface retains an attractive greyish shimmer. A black dial with printing and luminescence in the team’s signature shade of green complement the distinctive design. The IWC-manufactured 69385 calibre, a chronograph movement in classic column-wheel design consisting of 231 individual parts, is visible through a sapphire glass back. The bi-directional pawl winding system builds up a power reserve of 46 hours.

The chronograph is delivered with two different straps: one black embossed calfskin strap, and one green rubber strap. Thanks to the integrated EasX-CHANGE® system, the straps can be exchanged quickly and easily at the touch of a button without additional tools. The different strap options and easy interchangeability make the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Edition “Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team” a fully versatile sports watch.

The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Edition “Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team” is available exclusively online on IWC.com. In addition, the timepiece is eligible for registration under the My IWC care program and can benefit from a 6-year extension to the standard 2-year International Limited Warranty.