Remember me
At this year’s Watches and Wonders, IWC Schaffhausen continues to cement its status as the “Engineer of Watchmaking,” but the engineering this year feels more like alchemy. They’ve managed to take cold, industrial logic and infuse it with a sense of wonder, whether through the sparkle of a diamond – set icon or a watch built for the absolute silence of orbit. These aren't just tools – they are mechanical stories designed for the wrist.
The Ingenieur Automatic 35 with Diamonds
The Ingenieur has always been the thinking person’s sports watch – a rugged, Gérald Genta – inspired powerhouse built for the laboratory. This new iteration proves that industrial icons have a more decadent side. By utilising a perfectly proportioned 35 – millimetre case and introducing a bezel set with 45 white diamonds, IWC has created something that feels like a return to classic luxury.
The beauty is in the contrast – the raw, "Grid" patterned dial and the functional screws of the bezel are framed by the warmth of 18 – carat 5N gold. At just 9.4 – millimetres thick, it sits with a slimness that belies its tough history, while the gold – plated weight visible through the back ensures the luxury isn't just surface – level. It’s a watch that feels as at home in a boardroom as it does at a gallery opening.
Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar ProSet in Green and Gold
Left: Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar ProSet in Green and Gold. Right: Le Petit Prince Anniversary Edition in Gold.
Historically, the perpetual calendar was a complication to be feared – one wrong turn of the crown and you’d have to send it back to the factory. IWC has effectively "hacked" this challenge with the ProSet system. Using a micro – engineered system of flexible fingers and gears – some so complex they can only be made using a high – tech process called LIGA – this watch allows you to adjust every calendar display forward or backward with a simple turn of the crown.
It is high – tech intelligence wrapped in an incredibly chic dark olive green and gold exterior. The moon phase is so accurate it won't miss a beat for over a millennium – specifically, it deviates by only one day every 1,040 – years – making this the ultimate "set it and forget it" heirloom for those who appreciate both mechanical perfection and a bold sartorial statement.
Le Petit Prince Anniversary Edition in Gold
Marking 20 – years of one of the most poetic partnerships in watchmaking, this gold edition of the Mark XX is a tribute to the "humanist values" of pilot Antoine de Saint – Exupéry. It takes the military – derived DNA of the Pilot’s Watch and elevates it with a solid 18 – carat 5N gold case and matching gold appliques.
The signature deep blue sunray dial remains the heart of the piece, but it’s the back where the storytelling truly shines. A tinted sapphire glass reveals the Little Prince standing on his asteroid – a gold – plated medallion that serves as a quiet reminder to stay curious. With a robust 120 – hour power reserve, it’s a romantic piece of engineering built to survive any adventure, terrestrial or otherwise.
Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive
If you ever wondered what a watch looks like when it's designed by people who actually plan on leaving the atmosphere, this is it. Created in collaboration with the space station pioneers at Vast, the Venturer is a crown – less marvel. In the void of space, a crown is a liability, so IWC replaced it with a patent – pending “Vertical Drive” bezel system that you can operate even while wearing bulky, pressurised space suit gloves.
It is built to withstand 10g of force – significantly more than the acceleration forces astronauts feel during a typical launch – and extreme temperature swings. But the real soul of the piece is in the dial – a 24 – hour display accounts for the fact that in orbit, you see 16 sunrises and sunsets every day, making traditional Earthly cycles meaningless. The subtle blue ring on the dial is a poetic nod to the Earth's horizon as seen from above, a constant reminder of home for those among the stars.
Stay inspired, follow us.
Comments (0)