Shared passion and craftsmanship precision. IWC meets Mercedes AMG.

Text: Mia Litström
Images: IWC

IWC continues its collaboration with Mercedes-AMG and has just presented the Pilot´s Watch Chronograph Edition ”AMG”. Eqotime’s Mia Litström has taken a closer look at the latest release from the collaboration between Mercedes AMG and IWC.

An obvious collaboration

That a watch brand continues to collaborate with a car brand is not just fun. It also feels like an obvious combo. Especially in this case, which is far too good not to be carried on. Watches contain the utmost expertise in the fine adjustment of mechanical parts, and it is the same with the cars. That car and watch come in completely different sizes makes no difference. It takes a passionate interest, a large portion of knowledge and drive to be able to create the very best within both of these fields. These products should not only be functional but are also created to move you. Not only in appearance but also in function, choice of materials, finish as well as the feeling and passion that has been put into the work to achieve the best result.

It is not only here that they go so well hand in hand, it is also in how they stand out, how they are recognised. The Pilot´s Watch cannot be mistaken. The watch has a character entirely of its own. It is the same with Mercedes-AMG, the engine sound that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, wonderful, almost thrilling, and then we have not even talked about how they feel to drive!

What is positive is that IWC has chosen not to let the car brand be large on the dial. You know, if you have the right interest, and see straight away by looking at the carbon fibre dial which edition it is. If you want to enjoy it a little extra or show off what the case contains, you can turn the watch over and look at the heart, the movement, through the tinted sapphire crystal of the case back, where there is also an AMG logotype. It would have been extra lovely if any of the parts in the movement had been given an AMG engraving. But the movement parts are beautifully decorated with Côtes de Genève and perlage engraving. That it is a chronograph feels like a matter of course, as does the fact that it is 43 mm, a Pilot´s Watch should assert itself.

For both men and women

What makes me as a woman extra happy is when companies choose to feature both a man and a woman wearing the watch in the launch images. Whether it is then women who will buy it, that is another question. But just the fact that they have the attitude that everyone can wear it commands respect. It is a large watch but it really makes no difference whether you are a man or a woman. A proper chronograph has nothing to do with gender but with what the wearer feels for the watch. A wonderful statement from two companies that are often perceived as very masculine.

Women actually appreciate the same thing as men. If it is a chronograph then it may well be a large one. With cars it is the same thing. A supersports car is not built in two versions, one for women and one for men. It can also be the other way around and wonderful when men love colour and sparkling stones on watches and practical everyday cars for the family in lovely colours.

What is extra fun about this edition of a pilot's watch? Well, it is the first time IWC´s in-house calibre 69385 is fitted in a 43 mm Pilots Watch Chronograph. In addition, for the first time in a grade 5 titanium case. The finish is lovely and matte and developed to be as similar as possible to AMG´s grey colour Selenite Grey Magno. One of their hallmarks.

Good specifications

The carbon fibre on the dial is a material that is characteristic of sports cars like AMG and is used on several different components. Not only for the sake of the design but also to make it as torsionally strong and light as possible. As AMG themselves say, Born on the racetrack. Where carbon fibre is a matter of course in order to get the best conditions for a car created for the track. The carbon fibre is ”woven” on special mechanical looms so that it can be shaped. If you love details in carbon fibre then you will love this dial.

The movement 69385, an automatic movement with a power reserve of 46 hours. Chronograph function with hours, minutes and seconds as well as date and day shown at 3 o'clock.

The case is water resistant to 6 bar (60 m), the height is 14,9 mm and the watch comes with a black calfskin strap.

The price is 9 900 CHF which is about 91 500 kronor.