IWC has given their sportiest chronograph a very colourful new update, just in time for the 2023 Miami Grand Prix: Formula 1’s most vibe-y new race.
The 2023 Formula 1 World Championship, which is already in full swing, will be contested over 23 different races this year – the most it’s ever had – including a record 3 races in the United States of America.
One of these races is the Miami Grand Prix, which was only introduced to the F1 calendar last year. “The fakest race on Earth” has nevertheless proven to be a hit with F1 fans, thanks to the glamorous nature of the Floridian party town, with both F1 teams and sponsors really getting into the spirit of the Magic City.
Case in point: IWC Schaffhausen, Mercedes’ official watch partner, who’ve given their collaborative watch with the race-winning outfit a very Miami-inspired update.
Last year, for the inaugural Miami Grand Prix, IWC unveiled the IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Edition “Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team” which, as the extremely long name implies, is a Mercedes-inspired take on the Swiss watchmaker’s popular Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41.
The watch – which is worn by the entire Mercedes team including designers, aerodynamicists, race engineers, strategists mechanics and of course, by Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell – is crafted from titanium (typically, the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 is made from steel) and features printing and luminescence in ‘Petronas Green’, the Mercedes F1 team’s signature shade.
Now, in 2023, IWC is mounting the watch on a new, eye-catching ‘Miami Pink’ rubber strap instead of the Petronas Green and leather options the watch previously came with. Of course, IWC’s EasX-CHANGE system makes it easy to swap that Petronas Green strap back on, if you’re so inclined…
WATCH our guide to the rest of Lewis Hamilton’s watch collection below.
But we really love the new pink option. Hot pink and light green (really, it’s almost a Tiffany Blue) on paper shouldn’t really work but in practice, it really does: it’s very 80s and totally Miami. A bit Hotline Miami, actually. The matte finish of the watch’s titanium case also helps the colourful highlights really pop.
Under the hood, the chronograph is powered by the IWC-manufactured 69385 calibre movement, which is proudly on display through the watch’s large sapphire glass back. Its bi-directional pawl winding system is robust, highly precise and boasts a 46-hour power reserve.
This new reference on the Miami Pink rubber strap (ref. IW388114) comes in a bundle with the green strap and can only be purchased online on IWC.com and in the brand’s Miami boutique… And only for a limited time.
For AU$12,400 it’s actually priced quite competitively, especially considering how hot titanium watches are right now. Hehe, competitively.
Anyway, you better make like Lewis Hamilton and speed on in if you want to nab one. Find out more at IWC’s online boutique here.