The development of high-performance cars, the many different facets of world of racing and the fascinating world of haute horlogerie have much in common: they all depend on high-tech materials, world-class engineering, ultimate performance and continuous innovation.
But equally important are passion, a pioneering spirit and teamwork. These are the reasons for IWC’s close involvement with the world of motor sport. Currently, the Schaffhausen watch manufacturer’s partnerships are founded on three pillars:
PRECISION ENGINEERING
Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team
THE OFFICIAL ENGINEERING PARTNER OF THE MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS FORMULA ONE TEAM SINCE 2013
The partnership is founded on the many parallels that exist between motor sport’s premier competition and the world of haute horlogerie. A masterpiece of engineering, the Mercedes F1 W06 Hybrid Silver Arrow, for instance, consists of over 3000 individual parts. It is equipped with innovative technologies and high-tech materials such as titanium aluminide, ceramic, and carbon fibre.
IWC Schaffhausen likewise integrates extremely durable materials into its mechanical timepieces. These improve the service life of the components or enable the creation of eye-catching cases and designs. In Formula 1, as in the watch industry, the focus is likewise on teamwork. Motor sport brings together the world’s best engineers and designers, as well as material and aerodynamics specialists. By the same token, IWC’s complex, filigree masterpieces of haute horlogerie only come into being through the interaction of high-calibre specialists representing many different disciplines.
LEWIS HAMILTON AND VALTTERI BOTTAS
IWC Schaffhausen also has close links, as partners, with the two Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team drivers: three-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton and his team mate Valtteri Bottas. These exceptional talents are two of IWC Schaffhausen’s Friends of the Brand and share a fascination for mechanical timepieces.
In 2014, as part of a joint design project, two special editions, each limited to 250 watches, were launched: the Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “Lewis Hamilton” (Ref. IW379602) and the Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “Nico Rosberg” (Ref. IW379603). Both timepieces have components made of titanium, carbon and zirconium oxide ceramic: in other words, the same materials that are also used in the construction of Formula 1 racing cars.
THE 2016 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CALENDAR:
HERITAGE
Rallye Passione Caracciola and Goodwood Members' Meeting
RALLYE PASSIONE CARACCIOLA
No driver left his mark on the era of the Mercedes Silver Arrow like Rudolf Caracciola. In 144 of 204 completed races, he crossed the finishing line as victor. And exceptional talent that he was, he was crowned Grand Prix European Champion on no fewer than three occasions: in 1935, 1937 and 1938. His victory in the Klausen Race of 1934 is likewise unforgotten.
This legendary mountain climb snakes up 21.5 kilometres and 1237 metres in altitude from the Linth valley to the Klausen Pass. The Rallye Passione Caracciola honours the memory of this unforgettable and courageous racing driver. It was held for the first time in 2015. On the grid were 30 vintage and classic automobiles built between 1930 and 1960. IWC Schaffhausen is the official partner of the event.
GOODWOOD MEMBERS’ MEETING
The Goodwood House estate in the south of England also includes the 3.8-kilometre Goodwood racing circuit. Between 1948 and 1966, it was a venue for major Formula 1 events. The Members’ Meetings held there between 1949 and 1966 achieved legendary status. The events were private and participation restricted to club members.
The Goodwood Road Racing Club reintroduced the Members’ Meeting in 2014 with the express purpose of bringing back to life the intimacy and sense of community engendered by the original historic meet-ups for members only. The event takes place every year to mark the start of the motor racing season in March and is reserved exclusively, as in bygone days, for members of the club. IWC Schaffhausen has been Timing Partner of the Goodwood Members’ Meeting since 2015.
PERFORMANCE ENGINEERING
Mercedes-AMG is the Mercedes high-performance brand and produces the most powerful series models in the German car manufacturer’s range. Maximum quality and performance, genuine pioneering spirit and craftsmanship: IWC Schaffhausen shares many fundamental values with the high-performance specialists at Mercedes-AMG. The two companies have maintained their partnership since 2004. AMG’s roots go all the way back to motor sport.
Today, the three letters are synonymous with ultimate performance in road vehicles. Mercedes-AMG develops the most powerful series-built engines for Mercedes-Benz. These fabulous machines are assembled at the factory by a single mechanic as part of the company’s “one man, one engine” philosophy.
INGENIEUR AUTOMATIC EDITION "AMG GT"
The company is also well known for its groundbreaking in-house developments. In 2010, it unveiled the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and in 2014, this model found a worthy successor in the Mercedes AMG GT.
In 2015, as a token of recognition for this masterpiece of Performance Engineering, IWC Schaffhausen launched the Ingenieur Automatic Edition “AMG GT” in a tiny edition of just 25 watches. It is the world’s first watch to feature a case machined from solid boron carbide ceramic. Currently the hardest ceramic available, it is as hard as a diamond and as light as aluminium.
FEATURED WATCHES
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Charles Darwin
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Fondation Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
As a partner of the Fondation Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, IWC Schaffhausen is committed to helping children and young people in disadvantaged circumstances.
Cousteau
IWC is a partner of the Cousteau Society and dedicated to protect the ocean life and support the explorations and observations of ecosystems all over the world.