IWC Releases 140-Piece Big Pilot's Watch for Mercedes-Benz

IWC Schaffhausen has unveiled the Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar ProSet 140 Years Mercedes‑Benz edition, a limited-edition timepiece created to celebrate the German automaker's 140th anniversary. This release signifies a deepening of the existing partnership between IWC and Mercedes-Benz, which initially began with Mercedes-AMG in 2004 and extended to the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team in 2013. The commemorative watch is restricted to a production run of 140 pieces, reflecting a shared commitment to engineering excellence, high performance, and pioneering design between both brands. The timepiece features a brushed and polished 42mm stainless steel case with a thickness of 14mm. Its dial is matte black, complemented by solid gold appliqués and gold-plated hands. The dial layout includes four subdials that display the date, day, month, and a four-digit year. Additionally, it incorporates IWC's signature Double Moon® phase display positioned at 12 o'clock, which is engineered to require a correction of only one day every 1,040 years. The case back is made of sapphire glass and showcases the historic 1926 logo, which represents the initial merger between Daimler Motoren-Gesellschaft and Benz & Cie., integrating the iconic three-pointed star with Benz's classic laurel wreath. The watch is presented on a black rubber strap equipped with IWC's tool-free EasX-CHANGE® system, allowing for easy strap replacement. Powering the timepiece is the IWC-manufactured 82665 caliber, which integrates the brand's Perpetual Calendar ProSet module. This module, protected by four patents, utilizes a gear-driven mechanism that enables the perpetual calendar to be adjusted both forwards and backwards using a single crown position, thereby eliminating the need for additional pushers or complex setting procedures. The movement is crafted using microscopic LIGA lithography technology and includes a silicon hairspring, contributing to its precision and durability. The Perpetual Calendar ProSet module itself is a significant innovation, allowing for intuitive adjustments of the calendar functions. This advanced mechanism ensures that the watch's calendar remains accurate and easy to manage for decades to come. The collaboration between IWC and Mercedes-Benz highlights a shared heritage of innovation and precision engineering, extending across automotive and horological domains.