Cover IWC Schaffhausen and Mercedes-AMG mark 20 years of partnership with the launch of of the Big Pilot’s Watch AMG G 63 (Photo: courtesy of Mercedes)
IWC Schaffhausen and Mercedes-AMG mark 20 years of partnership with the launch of of the Big Pilot’s Watch AMG G 63 (Photo: courtesy of Mercedes)
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Celebrating 20 years of partnership, the Big Pilot’s Watch AMG G 63 is a golden ode to everyone’s favourite luxury SUV
The partnership between IWC Schaffhausen and Mercedes-AMG, the legendary German carmaker’s high-performance subsidiary, has always been a natural fit. With both brands known for their constant innovation and penchant for pushing stylistic boundaries, IWC has worked with both the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team and the brand’s road car division to produce some spectacular timepieces over the past two decades.
The two companies have marked the 20-year milestone of their partnership with the introduction of the Big Pilot’s Watch AMG G 63, a very special new addition to IWC’s iconic Big Pilot’s Watch range, inspired by the equally iconic Mercedes-Benz G-Class.
Taking its design from the recently launched Mercedes-AMG G 63 Grand Edition, the new special-edition timepiece is characterised by its striking contrast of black and gold. This juxtaposition comes courtesy of the use on the watch’s case and crown of IWC’s proprietary 18 karat Armor Gold, which combines with the black dial to dazzling effect. An alloy made from a modified microstructure, the innovative material is significantly harder and more wear-resistant than conventional red gold, making the watch just as tough as the military-inspired G-Wagon from which it takes its inspiration.
The black dial features a textured diamond pattern redolent of the front grilles and air intakes of the sporty Mercedes-AMG performance cars, while the numerals and indices are three-dimensional appliqués rather than the printed indicators on standard Big Pilot’s Watch models. The hands, numerals and indices are coated in black using physical vapour deposition and finished with beige-gold Super-LumiNova for added nighttime visibility.
The new Big Pilot’s Watch AMG G 63 (Photo: courtesy of Mercedes)
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In another nod to the G-Class, two circular sub-dials reminiscent of headlights at three and nine o’clock house the power reserve and small seconds indicators respectively, while a bevelled window at six o’clock reveals the date. The reverse of the watch, meanwhile, is adorned with the Mercedes logo and a black bar extending from the centre to the edge of the sapphire caseback, evoking the spare tyre cover found on the back of the G-Class.
Driven by IWC’s calibre 52011 automatic, self-winding movement, which comprises 25 components, 31 jewels and twin mainspring barrels, the AMG G 63 boasts a hefty seven-day power reserve at 28,800 vibrations per hour, meaning it will last more than long enough for an adventure in the G-Wagon.
