IWC Schaffhausen unveils a new watch to celebrate a Formula One partnership

IWC Schaffhausen has introduced the Pilot’s Watch Mark XX Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. It celebrates its partnership with its namesake Formula One team. It follows the brand’s “first official team watch,” the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Edition Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team ((Ref. IW388108) in 2022, succeeded by Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41 Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One (Ref. IW388306) in 2023.

Image: Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Edition Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team ((Ref. IW388108) of 2022.

Image: Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41 Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One (Ref. IW388306) of 2023.

Key Features

Functions and Operations

Image: A Pilot’s watch adapted for the adrenaline fuelled world of Formula One.

Central hours, minutes, and seconds.

Date at 3 o’clock.

Hacking-seconds or stop-seconds function.

All operations via the screw-in crown at 3 o’clock.

Dial

Image: Petronas green elements on the black dial looks great.

Black dial.

Hour and minute hands are coated with green Super-LumiNova.

10 Arabic numerals and triangle with two dots at 12 o’clock (a Pilot’s watch feature) are printed in Petronas green. Petronas green is the team’s signature colour. Triangle is coated with green Super-LumiNova.

Hour and minute scale is printed in Petronas green. It encircles the outer dial and is graduated in increments of 5 minutes each. Baton-shaped hour-markers at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock are coated with green Super-LumiNova.

The brand name at 12 o’clock, “MARK XX AUTOMATIC” at 6 o’clock, and a discreet “SWISS MADE” on the left and right of the 6 o’clock hour-marker are printed in Petronas green.

Date numeral at 3 o’clock is in Petronas green, printed on a black date wheel. A lovely and thoughtful design touch.

Case and Strap

Image: Petronas green rubber strap assures a snug fit.

Case is made from grade-5 titanium.

Diameter: 40 mm. Thickness: 10.68 mm.

It “features a 40-millimetre case crafted from lightweight and remarkably rigid grade 5 titanium. Offering the highest strength-to-density ratio of any metal, titanium is also used in automotive engineering to produce car parts subject to immense stress, such as engine valves. After machining and sandblasting, the surface retains an attractive greyish shimmer.

Dial side features a convex sapphire glass, with anti-reflective coating on both sides. The sapphire glass “is secured against displacement by drop in air pressure.” 

Solid caseback. It “is engraved with small hexagons as well as “Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team.”

Image: Interesting solid caseback.

Water resistant up to 10 bar.

Watch comes with a “Petronas green rubber strap featuring the EasX-CHANGE® strap change system.”

Movement

Image: Calibre 32111. A workhorse automatic movement, that is robust, reliable, and easily serviceable.

Powered by Calibre 32111, an automatic movement manufactured by IWC. It features an “efficient double pawl winding system.” It drives the hours, minutes, seconds, date, and hacking-seconds.

According to online sources, the movement is manufactured by Val Fleurier for IWC. Val Fleurier is a movement manufacture owned by Richemont Group. Among their activities, they manufacture movements for Richemont Group owned brands such as Baume & Mercier, IWC Schaffhausen, Montblanc, Panerai, Piaget and possibly others.

Parts: 163. Jewels: 21.

Frequency: 28,800 vph or 4 Hz.

Power reserve: 120 hours or 5 days.

Our Thoughts

The Mark XX Automatic is a quintessential pilot’s watch. A pilot’s watch is a vital instrument that must provide critical information immediately and function reliably without fail. For pilots it can mean the difference between safety and danger. This same principle applies to a Formula One team during the extremely fast paced and adrenaline fuelled races. The Pilot’s Watch Mark XX Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team is designed to provide team members the following:

Critical information immediately: Hours, minutes, and seconds against bold Arabic numerals complemented by a bold hour and minute scale.

Reliability: Calibre 32111 is a robust and reliable automatic movement with a 5-day power reserve.

Less weight and Comfort: Grade-5 titanium is a lightweight metal, and the rubber strap assures a snug fit.

These elements will be appreciated by many collectors too, and not only those on the front line of a Formula One race. It is a great looking watch. The Petronas green elements on the black dial, paired with the greyish grade-5 titanium case and green rubber strap looks great. It is great value for the price. A perfect watch for collectors who have a passion for motorsports.

Additional Details

Name: Pilot’s Watch Mark XX Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team

Reference: IW328210

Price: Swiss Franc (CHF): 5,700

IWC Schaffhausen has boutiques in Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates. Authorised retailers include Calibre 88 and Dubai Duty Free. Authorised online retailers include Net a Porter and Mr Porter.

Please visit the IWC Schaffhausen website and Instagram page for more information.

Our recent coverage of IWC Schaffhausen includes the Ingenieur Automatic 40 with a blue dial, Polaris Dawn Mission, legendary watchmaker Kurt Klaus, and the GPHG Awards, where the Portugieser Eternal Calendar won the “Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix.