IWC Schaffhausen Roars From The Grid With A Major Collection For The F1 Movie
For racing fans, the new F1 movie should be the cinematic event of the summer. It promises heart-pounding action along with the chance to see stars like Brad Pitt and Damson Idris in the driver’s seat of modern Formula One cars. But what’s a race car without a high-performance watch? Enter IWC Schaffhausen as the official watch sponsor of Pitt’s and Idris’s fictitious race team, APX GP. That’s not all, though, as the movie has inspired a collection of new watches that we’ll examine.
Let’s be honest: there aren’t enough racing films to satisfy those of us who enjoy watching high-speed vehicles compete. All that will change on June 25th when F1, the feature-length film, is released. The movie is produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Lewis Hamilton, Brad Pitt, and their partners. That already forms a blockbuster in the making, but Joseph Kosinski, the director of Top Gun: Maverick, is also along for the ride. The cast is strong and includes Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem, and Tobias Menzies. When it comes to trying to catch a glimpse of the all-important wristwear, expect to find IWC in a prominent position.
F1, the movie
Before we delve into the latest IWC watches, let’s set the stage with a brief plot synopsis (no spoilers here!) of F1. The story follows Sonny Hayes, Pitt’s character, a former Formula One driver injured during a crash in the ’90s. While working as a taxi driver, he is contacted by an old friend and current team owner, Ruben Cervantes, who is played by Javier Bardem. Cervantes convinces Hayes to return to his team, APX GP, as the teammate and mentor of Joshua Pearce, played by Damson Idris. Kerry Condon plays Kate McKenna, the team’s technical director. Tobias Menzies is cast as Peter Banning, an APX board member who is pushing for a sale of the team. Another great detail is the inclusion of current stars Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, and more because the film was shot during race weekends.
The IWC watches
Throughout the film, watchful eyes will notice a plethora of IWC watches. Indeed, many watches from the Pilot collection are on the wrists of various characters. However, there are also several new releases celebrating the APX GP team using black and gold as the primary colors. As we’ll see, three are chronographs, an appropriate watch style for a driver. The lead character’s watch has inspired the fourth watch.
The Ingenieur Automatic 40 with a green dial
Last July, at the Hungarian GP, Brad Pitt was spotted with a vintage ’70s IWC Ingenieur SL ref. 1832 with a custom green dial. Watch spotters picked up on this quickly and assumed a link to the filming of the F1 movie. IWC confirmed that the watch contained a custom dial by Cloister Watch Company, a NYC-based company specializing in custom vintage watches. If the thought of modifying one of these rare gems sounds scary, IWC has a more contemporary solution.
A modern limited-edition Ingenieur Automatic 40 is now available with a PVD-coated green soft iron dial. Reference IW328908 is limited to 1,000 numbered pieces and contains a grid-patterned dial with gold-plated indexes and hands. The watch is similar to the piece Hayes wears in the movie.
Regarding the specs, the watch is identical to the regular stainless steel Ingenieur Automatic 40 models. This means a 40mm by 45.7mm case with a mere 10.7mm thickness. Inside, the watch uses the automatic caliber 32111 with 120 hours of power reserve. As a sports watch, it’s ready to handle most activities with a 10-bar water resistance rating. This limited edition has a price of €14,200, an increase of €1,300 over the non-limited references.
The IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 APXGP, red gold
Formula One has always blended performance with glamor, and the new IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 APXGP follows suit. To celebrate F1, this 41mm by 14.7mm watch uses an 18K 5N red gold case and a black rubber strap. Reference IW388309 has a black lacquered dial with applied, Super-LumiNova-filled gold indexes and hands. IWC is known for its 6-9-12 chronograph layouts, and this piece features running seconds, a 12-hour counter, and a 30-minute totalizer. There’s also a day and date display.
The sapphire display back shows the in-house automatic caliber 69385. It’s a nicely decorated movement with 46 hours of power reserve and has been adjusted to five positions. Once again, this watch is meant to be used and has a 10-bar water resistance rating. The price reflects the exclusive nature of gold at €28,600. Watch out for this piece on the wrist of Damson Idris’s character, Joshua Pearce.
The stainless steel Pilot’s Watch Chronograph APXGP in 41mm and 43mm cases
For those who enjoy a more elemental chronograph, IWC has produced special versions of its stainless steel Pilot’s Watch Chronographs for F1. Available in a 41mm case as reference IW388116 and a 43mm size as IW378009, the watches contain gold details, such as the outer minute track, sub-dial tracks, and hands, to celebrate the APX GP team. Each watch comes with a black rubber strap and stainless steel pin buckle. IWC’s EasX-CHANGE makes strap changes simple if switching to leather or another material.
A notable difference from the gold version is the inclusion of Sonny Hayes’ and Joshua Pearce’s APX GP team logo on the display case back. Here again, the in-house automatic 69385 powers the watches. These watches represent the most affordable way to obtain a keepsake from the movie and have prices of €7,700 for the 41mm and €7,800 for the 43mm version.
Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month
A perpetual calendar is a serious watch and, perhaps, the kind of piece worn by a team principal. In support of F1, IWC is debuting the modern Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month. Reference IW388801 is 43mm and made from the brand’s black Ceratanium alloy. It blends the lightweight characteristics of titanium and the scratch resistance of ceramic. A matching Ceratanium bracelet comes fitted to the watch and equipped with a simple, push-button system to add or remove links.
This is a loaded Perpetual Calendar! In addition to the day, date, month, and year, it has a full flyback chronograph. The display contains small seconds and totalizers. Plus, it has a 10-bar water resistance rating. Inside and on display is the manufacture 89802 automatic movement. This powertrain has 474 pieces, boasts 68 hours of power reserve, and has a frequency of 28,800vph. The watch is a technical tour de force, much like an F1 car! At €89,600, it’s an exclusive, high-performance piece.
The Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber Tourbillon Skeleton XPL
The final watch inspired by the APX GP’s racing colors is the Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber Tourbillon Skeleton XPL. In 2021, IWC released its first Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL, a watch able to withstand a force of 30,000 g! Now, the brand has raised the stakes by adding its 82915 automatic tourbillon to the mix. The proprietary Sprin-g Protect system ensures the movement will continue to run despite shocks of up to 10,000 g — more than enough for an F1 driver!
IWC chose Ceratanium for this 44mm watch. It’s also just 13mm thick and water resistant to 10 bar. It comes exclusively on a black rubber strap. One can expect 80 hours of power reserve from the tourbillon and enjoy viewing it through the front or back of the case. Just 100 of these pieces are available, and the price is available on application.
How would you celebrate the F1 film?
IWC has gone all out in its celebration of F1. The brand’s name is visible on the APX GP cars, in the garage, and on gloves, the wrists of various cast members, but it doesn’t feel over the top. Regarding the watches, I love the restraint and lack of dial decoration. As for the color combinations, black and gold have a history in Formula One, so the hues feel right. Again, there’s nothing passé or kitschy. The question is, aside from watching the film, are you excited to see these watches on the screen and in a local IWC boutique? Let us know your favorite model and why in the comments section below.
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