IWC, Mercedes-AMG Released Two New Performance Watches For F1 Weekend

As the Formula One circuit revs up Sin City this weekend for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, the penultimate race of the 2023 season, IWC has launched some motorsport-themed chronographs.

Rather than a beefed-up version of its recently revamped Ingenieur Automatic 40, IWC turned to its iconic Pilot's Watch collection to release a pair of high-octane Pilot's Watch Performance Chronograph 41s in honour of its longtime motorsport partners.

The Pilot's Watch Performance Chronograph 41 AMG (US$9,800 on black rubber strap/US$11,700 on titanium H-link bracelet) is made entirely of lightweight brushed titanium, right down to the pushers.

The watchmaker collaborated closely with Aérospatiale, a French aerospace company, to develop the specific skills required for machining the tough material, which has the highest strength-to-density ratio of any metal and is frequently used in the manufacture of high-performance automotive engines.

The case of the Pilot's Watch Performance Chronograph 41 is made of rigid grade 5 titanium alloy, which is approximately 45% lighter than steel. 

Machined from bars, case components are finished by hand and fired in a high-temperature kiln. During the firing process, the surface of the material changes to resemble ceramic with a matte black finish. 

Ceramic bezels have a tachymeter scale that can be used to calculate average speed in relation to distance travelled, a nod to their F1-inspired spirit. Start the chronograph and then stop it when you reach a kilometre.
The central chronograph seconds hand will indicate an average speed in kilometres per hour by pointing to a number on the rotating tachymeter scale.

The slick, polished black ceramic bezels are offset by glossy black dials with rhodium-plated hands. For optimal readability, IWC's signature vertical sub-dial arrangement displays the stopped minutes at 12 o'clock. The recessed chronograph totalizers, as well as the applied indices and numerals, are filled with Super-LumiNova, which illuminates the dials in low-light conditions. 

The IWC-manufactured automatic 69385 calibre movement is engineered for robustness, dependability, and precision. When activating, stopping, and resetting the chronograph timing sequence, the column-wheel chronograph mechanism ensures crisp action.
A bi-directional pawl winding system is also used in the movement to generate a power reserve of 46 hours. Following assembly and regulation, all movement functions are automatically tested over a 12-day period in the FIM (final inspection movement) cell developed by IWC.