As the 2025 Formula One season approaches, Swiss luxury watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen has launched the Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL Toto Wolff x Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team—a 100-piece limited edition honoring the team’s CEO and principal. This marks IWC’s second motorsport-inspired release this year, following January’s Pilot’s Watch Mark XX collaboration.
Cutting-Edge Shock Protection for High-Speed Performance
The watch debuts IWC’s patented “SPRIN-g PROTECT” shock absorber system, originally developed by the brand’s XPL engineering division in 2021. Designed to withstand extreme forces exceeding 30,000 g, the mechanism uses a cantilever spring made from bulk metallic glass (BMG)—a material prized for its elasticity—to cushion the movement during impacts.
Motorsport-Inspired Design and Materials
Case & Crown: Crafted from Ceratanium, a proprietary IWC alloy blending titanium’s lightness with ceramic-like hardness. The 44mm case maintains a sleek 12.6mm profile.
Dial: A textured black surface, stamped into brass, features triangular hands edged with Super-LumiNova for visibility. The floating minute scale nods to aerodynamic elements.
Movement: The automatic Calibre 32101 boasts a 120-hour power reserve and 4Hz frequency, finished in black to mirror the dial’s industrial aesthetic.
A Personal Touch for a Racing Legend
The sapphire caseback bears Toto Wolff’s signature, commemorating his leadership in Mercedes-AMG’s F1 dominance. Wolff has been seen wearing a prototype of the watch, underscoring its connection to the team.
Availability: Limited to 100 pieces, the watch merges haute horology with Formula One engineering—a fitting tribute as the season kicks off in Melbourne on March 14–16, 2025.
