Cover IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive
IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive
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IWC Schaffhausen is in overdrive, revealing three groundbreaking watches that demand attention in white
Is white the new black? Only time will tell, but IWC Schaffhausen is building a strong case for it with three pristine novelties showcasing the manufacture’s latest exciting innovations.
FOUND IN SPACE
IWC Schaffhausen has been working with Vast, the American aerospace company building commercial space stations, on a professional tool wristwatch that would meet the demands of human spaceflight and timekeeping in space.
Meet Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive, crafted in lightweight but resilient white zirconium oxide ceramic and Ceratanium—engineered to survive extreme G-forces, temperatures, and shocks. It was developed to meet Haven‑1’s spaceflight requirements, earning official certification from Vast. Haven‑1 is scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station.
Read more: IWC Schaffhausen’s Christian Knoop talks design and appealing to women watch-lovers
Above IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive
IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive
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It is equipped with a patent-pending rotating bezel system that can be operated while using gloves. This essentially replaces the crown, allowing all watch functions to be controlled by the bezel. The name Vertical Drive is derived from the clutch system that connects the bezel and the winding system. A rocker switch on the side enables changing between functions, including setting the different time zones. Additionally, the watch can be wound by rotating the bezel anti-clockwise, or you can just let the oscillating mass do the job for you.
Powered by the automatic 32722 calibre, the watch features two time displays: the standard central hour and minute, and the 24-hour format. The latter is more than a fancy add-on, as it serves the crucial role of keeping the astronaut oriented in space. The space station completes an orbital cycle around Earth roughly every 90 minutes, so the astronaut experiences as many as 16 sunrises and sunsets in 24 hours. Adhering to the GMT format for timekeeping helps them to keep a steady routine of wake and sleep while in space.
The watch, paired with a white UV-resistant FKM rubber strap, has been rigorously tested in all space conditions at the Vast headquarters in California, passing all criteria to receive the green light for space exploration. Should you prefer to stay firmly on the ground, the watch is an excellent dual-time companion—but with the pedigree of a bona fide space instrument.
See also: Brad Pitt flaunts this IWC watch in the movie, ‘F1’
Above IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Ceralume
IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Ceralume
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Above IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Ceralume is fully luminous in the dark
IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Ceralume is fully luminous in the dark
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GLOW UP
Appearing as a concept watch last year, white Ceralume is now commercially available, debuting in the Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar. Developed by IWC’s engineering division XPL with support from RC Tritec, the Super-Luminova specialist, Ceralume is a luminous ceramic blended with Super-Luminova pigments. The challenge was getting a uniform mixture of zirconium oxide (the key ingredient for high-tech ceramic) and the pigments owing to their different particle sizes. To solve this, IWC's engineers developed a dedicated ball-milling process that uses cascading balls to pulverise and homogenise the mixture into a fine, consistent powder.
Limited to 250 pieces, Ceralume is used to make the case and dial. Paired with a white luminous rubber strap, the entire watch emits a surreal glow in low-light conditions.
Above IWC Schaffhausen Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar ProSet Le Petit Prince
IWC Schaffhausen Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar ProSet Le Petit Prince
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MAKE A DATE
With the Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar ProSet Le Petit Prince, IWC Schaffhausen has given Kurt Klaus’ original perpetual calendar an upgrade, allowing for bi-directional calendar adjustments using only the crown. As most mechanical watches only allow forward adjustment, this is a welcome solution. If you accidentally overshoot the correct date, say April 15 when you wanted April 14, the ProSet allows you to move the calendar backward. This operation is made possible thanks to gears with multiple functional layers and flexible, extendable and retractable fingers. Using the advanced LIGA process, every component is manufactured with the highest precision.
Even the moon phase is endowed with an equally robust character. Its reduction gear has been recalculated so that it aligns perfectly with the moon's orbit for up to 1,044 years. The watch comes in three references, including this 43mm white ceramic with a white rubber strap.
Brian Cheong leads the watch (Tatler GMT) and jewellery content at Tatler Malaysia, combining sharp editorial insight with years of luxury lifestyle experience. A seasoned journalist in luxury watches based in Kuala Lumpur, Brian had previously helmed World of Watches, Men's Folio and Prestige Malaysia.
