May
Watches and motorsports have long been partners, both in the minds of fans, and in the boardrooms of watchmakers and racing teams. The latest product of these long-running relationships is a new chronograph from IWC. It was produced in partnership with Mercedes-AMG, and features some impressive motorsport-inspired design touches.
IWC’s newest chrono features a 43 mm case that is 14.9 mm thick. Those are healthy dimensions, but the watch should still be capable of being worn under a dress cuff, and it certainly looks good enough for dress occasions.
The watch features a case made completely of grade 5 titanium, which IWC says will make it extremely light and scratch resistant. The case’s open back shows off IWC powerhouse 69385 cailber movement, and carries the Mercedes-AMG logo emblazoned across the crystal. The movement is highly decorated and looks great under the display caseback. When it’s all buttoned up, the case offers a water resistance of up to six bar, or 60 meters, adding peace of mind that a splash or even a swim won’t hurt the timepiece.
The dial is made of woven carbon fiber, and while it’s far from subtle, the material helps give the watch its true motorsport-inspired feel. As with other IWC pilot’s watch chronographs, the new AMG model will feature three subdials and a day-date complication. The subdials are set in silver to stand out from the dark carbon dial, and the hour indices are highly legible.
The carbon fiber on the dial was derived directly from AMG’s aero components, and were produced in a process that involves intense heat and pressure. The material is used in motorsport and high-performance vehicles because of its extreme strength, rigidity, and light weight.
Similar to the high-powered cars from AMG, the IWC carries impressive hardware under its hood. The 69385 movement features a 46-hour power reserve, a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, and 33 jewels. The self-winding movement ticks away with astonishing accuracy, and features stop time measurements of up to 12 hours. IWC says that the chronograph function is controlled by a column wheel, which has two functional levels.
As is true with many IWC timepieces, the new AMG-inspired model will look great on a variety of straps. It comes from the factory on a black embossed calf leather strap with contrast stitching and a folding clasp, but it should be just as at home on any leather, textile, or other strap.
The brand-new watch has barely had time to hit the market, so it might be some time before it starts to show up elsewhere. It carries a price of $9,100 and is on sale at IWC boutiques now.