Maximum endurance and performance, a legacy of practical essence and design details that stand the test of time are the hallmarks behind the enduring popularity and success of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and the Grand Pilot’s Watch from IWC Schaffhausen.
The Swiss luxury watch manufacturer now presents two special editions of the Grand Pilot’s Watch that pay tribute to these great icons of modern design. Both watches evoke the avant-garde finishes of the emblematic G-Class, such as the headlights or the spare wheel cover, and are made of materials that make their cases very solid and resistant.
The IWC Schaffhausen Grand Pilot’s Watch and the Mercedes-Benz G-Class share a similar history and are rooted in a legacy of practical essence. Both were created primarily to meet purely functional criteria: one to be easy to read and robust, the other to offer uncompromising off-road capabilities. After nearly 20 years of partnership with Mercedes-AMG, the Swiss luxury watch manufacturer now pays tribute to these icons with two striking special editions of the Grand Pilot’s Watch.
The AMG G 63 Large Pilot’s Watch (Ref. IW501201) boasts an 18K Armor Gold® case and crown, black dial and black rubber strap with microfiber inlay. The black and gold color code is inspired by the exterior paint and interior trim of the recently launched Mercedes-AMG G 63 “Grand Edition”. Armor Gold® is an innovative alloy that takes the hardness of gold to an unprecedented level and turns this relatively soft precious metal into one that is much more resistant to external influences. Thanks to an improved microstructure, this special alloy is significantly harder and more wear-resistant than conventional red gold. The combination of sandblasted surfaces and polished edges gives this Grand Pilot’s Watch an elegant and contemporary character.
The AMG G 63 Large Pilot’s Watch (Ref. IW506201) is the first IWC watch to feature a case created with ceramic matrix composites (CMC), designed in close collaboration with the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Unlike conventional carbon fiber-reinforced polymers, the fibers of this composite material are embedded in a ceramic matrix instead of polymer. Therefore, CMC components exhibit high damage tolerance. As they are also immune to thermal shock, they are often the material of choice for applications with extremely demanding requirements in terms of lightness, strength and thermal resistance, in fields ranging from aeronautics to the manufacture of brake discs for sports or high-end vehicles.
