BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
Wristwatches and Formula 1 go hand in hand, some may argue that high-octane motorsports and watchmaking have a natural affinity for each other. The partnership between IWC and Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team was established in 2013. A successful association that resulted in eight Formula One™ Constructors’ Championships. Now IWC Schaffhausen and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team have introduced the team’s first-ever official watch as the world’s eyes shift to Florida for the inaugural Miami Grand Prix, namely the IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Edition “Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team”.
The most striking aspect of the watch is undoubtedly its Petronas green, which is the team’s signature color. Featuring a black dial with black hands and all the printing and luminescence on the watch’s dial is done in the Petronas green as mentioned earlier. Legibility is the driving force behind this Flieger watch, which has a highly legible dial with contrasting markings and hands. The dial configuration is the same as before with the small seconds sub-dial at 6 o’clock, 30-minute counter at 12 o’clock, 12-hours counter at 9 o’clock and a day-date window at 3 o’clock.
The case is crafted in grade 5 titanium, granting the case strength and durability while staying lightweight. It measures 41mm in diameter and 14.6mm in height. The surface retains an interesting greyish sheen after machining and sandblasting. With a screw-in crown, the case has a water resistance rating of 10 bar (100 meters).
Powering the watch is the IWC-manufactured calibre 69385, which is an automatic winding chronograph movement with 231 distinct components viewable through a sapphire glass back in the classic column-wheel design. The crystal has an anti-reflective coating on both sides. With a frequency of 28,800 vph / 4 Hz, the movement stores up to 46 hours of power reserve, achieved with the help of a bi-directional pawl winding system.
The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Edition “Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One (Ref. IW388108) has options of either a black embossed calfskin strap, or a green rubber strap. The straps may be switched quickly and effortlessly at the push of a button, without the use of any extra tools, thanks to the integrated EasX-CHANGE® mechanism. The ref. IW388108 will be available exclusively online on iwc.com with a price of $7,850.
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