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Aquatimer Watches in “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom“
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DISCOVER THE NEW AQUATIMER PERPETUAL CALENDAR DIGITAL DATE-MONTH (REF. IW379405/06) INSPIRED BY THE GLOWING RED AND BLUE PROP WATCHES IN JAMES WAN’S AQUAMAN SEQUEL
In James Wan’s world, watches aren’t just accessories – they’re serious business. The film director invests meticulous attention in every detail. In his latest cinematic venture, "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" from Warner Bros. Pictures, he highlights the synergy between the film’s characters and their props. Wan, known for his storytelling precision, selected the IWC Aquatimer to grace the wrists of his film characters.
DEEP GLOW – IWC’S AQUATIMER PROP WATCHES
In the film, two characters wear the IWC Aquatimer prop watch that glows in the dark – Aquaman’s supervillain Black Manta and Dr. Stephen Shin. Every movement resonates with meaning in this narrative of precision and purpose, reflecting Wan’s commitment to seamless storytelling.
“One of the things that we wanted to do with the watch is to keep it aesthetically in the same world as my design for Black Manta,” explains Wan. “They’re not just accessories, they actually perform a very important function. I have a lot of admiration for all the skills and craftsmanship that go into building a really precise fine watch.”
— Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (left) and Randall Park (right) wearing IWC Aquatimer prop watches in James Wan’s “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom”
AQUATIMER PERPETUAL CALENDAR DIGITAL DATE-MONTH
The prototypes in the movie inspired IWC’s engineering division, IWC Experimental, to create two limited editions of the Aquatimer with black dials and hands: the Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month (IW379405 and IW379406). Just like the color schemes of Black Manta and Dr. Shin’s costume watches, the IW379405 edition features red Super-LumiNova® on the dial, hands, and inner rotating bezel, while IW379406 emits blue luminosity. The date and month on rotating discs on the dial can be easily read, all thanks to the IWC manufacture caliber 89802. This movement indicates leap years and packs a chronograph function for precise timekeeping. Boasting a 68-hour power reserve, a meticulously designed blackened rotor is visible through the transparent case back and adds an elegant touch.
IWC showcases unparalleled competence and tradition by seamlessly integrating perpetual calendar- and chronograph functions in a single movement. The Flyback chronograph, featuring a unique hour and minute hand at the 12 o’clock counter, exemplifies IWC’s commitment to innovation. A remarkable energy management allows simultaneous operation of all five calendar discs, smoothly transitioning from December 31st to January 1st. This achievement reflects IWC’s enduring tradition of combining precision calendars with sophisticated chronographs, setting a new standard in horological craftsmanship.
— The Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month (IW379405) boasts a 49-millimeter Ceratanium® case, a black dial and black rubber strap
— The Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month (IW379405) with red Super-LumiNova®
— The blackened rotor of the IWC-manufactured 89802 caliber is visible through the sapphire crystal back
— Reference IW379406 features blue elements on the dial, hands, and inner rotating bezel
REDEFINING DURABILITY
Both models of the Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month come with black rubber straps, as well as 49-millimeter cases, crowns, and pushers made from Ceratanium® - a material developed by IWC that combines the lightness of titanium with the scratch resistance of ceramic. Meticulously machined, hand-finished, and kiln-fired, they redefine durability and style in one of IWC’s largest sizes yet. Its innovative external/internal rotating bezel system guarantees precise dive timing, secured by the IWC SafeDive feature. Picture effortless style changes with the strap’s quick-change system, making it a perfect companion beneath the waves. But fans of “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” and the Aquatimer beware: each model is limited to only 25 pieces!
— Ultra-slick black look: the two Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month (IW379405/06) models were inspired by the IWC prop watches worn in “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom”
METICULOUS ATTENTION TO DETAIL IN MAKING FILMS AND WATCHES
IWC’s design team and director James Wan envisioned timepieces that complemented the narrative and connected to the movie’s alternate world where reality blends with fantasy. In this realm, Black Manta and Dr. Stephen Shin wear customized prototype Aquatimers, technically engineered with a battery-generated retroluminiscent LED system, casting a red and blue glow to match their costumes.
“Aquatimer is one of our most technical collections regarding case, movement, and dial design. So, to perfectly match the ultra-technical outfits and costumes of the villains in this film, we created an ultra-slick black look and stunning light designs for the dial, which resulted in a very powerful combination on the wrist,” explains Chief Design Officer Christian Knoop. “As designers, we are very keen on exploring where we can take our watch collections in the future. We find inspiration in movies and other product categories. In that sense, our design team was super enthusiastic to infuse some of our conceptual work into the movie project.”
The collaboration between IWC and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom underscores a commitment to precision and meticulous detail in both crafts. It’s a fusion where the art of watchmaking meets the art of storytelling.
About “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom”
Director James Wan and Aquaman himself, Jason Momoa—along with Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Nicole Kidman—return in the sequel to the highest-grossing DC film of all time: “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.”
Directed by James Wan, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” is produced by Peter Safran, Wan and Rob Cowan. The executive producers are Galen Vaisman and Walter Hamada. The screenplay is by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, from a story by James Wan & David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Jason Momoa & Thomas Pa’a Sibbett, based on characters from DC, Aquaman created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger.
Warner Bros. Pictures Presents An Atomic Monster / A Peter Safran Production of A James Wan Film, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” set to open in theaters internationally beginning 20 December 2023 and in North America on December 22, 2023; it will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.
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