IWC Schaffhausen presents the “Lewis Hamilton” Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Edition. The special design, limited to 100 watches, combines a black ceramic case and a Bordeaux-red dial with a crown and a case-back ring made of 18-carat 5N gold. The British racing driver created the distinctive timepiece together with IWC’s designers.
As a six-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton sets the ultimate standard – and not just as part of motorsport’s elite. He also doesn’t miss a beat when it comes to fashion and lifestyle either. Luxurious streetwear, trendy suits and unusual accessories – with his daring and expressive sense of style, Hamilton uses fashion as a way to communicate his distinct point of view on global culture. Now, he and IWC have designed a spectacular watch together – the IWC “Lewis Hamilton” Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar.
“This partnership with IWC was incredibly exciting for me, and it’s been an honour to collaborate so closely with the watchmakers in Schaffhausen,” said Hamilton. “Together, we’ve designed a beautiful timepiece which combines two things I am really passionate about – craftsmanship and design – and I am so pleased with the result.”
The “Lewis Hamilton” Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Edition (ref. IW503002) is limited to 100 watches and features a case made of black zirconium oxide ceramic and a Bordeaux-red dial. The gold-plated hands and the case back, rotor and characteristic “cone crown” made of 18-carat 5N gold provide luxury accents. The watch, with a generous diameter of 46.5 millimetres, has a Bordeaux-red textile strap to be worn around the wrist.
“Lewis approached us with the idea of a watch in Bordeaux-red and gold. Our starting point was the Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar – a favourite model of Hamilton’s, who is also an acknowledged expert in Haute Horlogerie. We decided on a case made of black ceramic with hints of gold and a Bordeaux-red dial and textile strap. This combination radiates understated luxury.” – Christian Knoop, Creative Director of IWC Schaffhausen.
The IWC 52615 manufacture calibre ensures that the watch rate is accurate. Its Pellaton winding system, fitted with components made from zirconium oxide ceramic, builds up a power reserve of seven days in two barrels. The perpetual calendar, made of only about 80 components, displays the date, day, month and year to four figures, as well as showing the lunar phase. The mechanical programme autonomously recognises that different months are different lengths, and adds a leap day every four years at the end of February. The double moon phase display simultaneously shows the lunar phase in the northern and southern hemispheres and will only deviate from the moon’s actual orbit by a single day after 577.5 years. All displays are perfectly synchronised and can be easily adjusted via the crown if the watch is not worn for a prolonged period.
Lewis Hamilton Biography
Lewis Hamilton, MBE, is a British Formula One™ driver, currently racing for Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport. In 2019 he won his sixth Formula One™ World Championship and is recognised as one of the sports all-time greats.
The son of an English mother and a father with Grenadian heritage, Lewis experienced a childhood many kids can relate to – he struggled with dyslexia and wasn’t sure where he belonged. He started racing go-karts at eight as a way to spend time with his dad. Showing incredible potential, he climbed the ladder at an unprecedented rate. Lewis had found his place in the world.
But Lewis’s roots and upbringing weren’t typical of the elitist world of F1, and as he continued his rise through ranks, he had to learn to embrace his role as an outsider. After blowing the competition off the grid in karting and the Formula 3 Euro Series, he progressed to the GP2 Series.
It was here that his fearless rise to every challenge caught the eye of McLaren Mercedes, who gave him his ticket to the big time: Formula One™, the pinnacle of motor racing. Lewis made his Formula One™ debut aged just 22. He became the youngest World Championship leader during his rookie season, eventually finishing runner up. The following year he claimed the crown, becoming the youngest World Champion the sport has ever seen.
In 2013 he moved to Mercedes AMG F1 and alongside his 1,200 teammates returned the Silver Arrows to the top of the podium with his second and third World Championships in 2015 and 2016, equalling the record set by his childhood hero, the great Ayrton Senna. Still carrying a sense that his success could be snatched away at any moment, Lewis maintained his unrivalled focus on winning perfection. He went on to secure three more world titles to join the great Michael Schumacher as the only drivers with six or more world championship titles.
His willingness to embrace what makes him different has defined his outlook on life, and the fearlessness, inspiration and positivity that drive him have been recognized by TIME Magazine, which included Lewis as one of the world’s ‘100 Most Influential People.
His approach to life off the track is just as positive, constantly challenging himself to grow and seeking inspiration from new places. He has a deep passion for creativity and fashion, and as a global brand ambassador for TOMMY HILFIGER designed his own global line, TommyXLewis, which fuses his unique style with the American heritage of the TOMMY HILFIGER brand. He has also partnered with IWC Schaffhausen, a leader in Watchmaking since 1869.
Looking to the future, Lewis sees himself continuing his work in fashion and design. Outside of Lewis’ collaborations with TOMMY HILFIGER, Lewis sits as the Menswear Ambassador for The British Fashion Council, where he jointly oversees, supports and advises on key issues facing the British designer industry. He has also become a much sought-after front-row attendee at the world’s leading fashion shows, as well as top fashion events such as The Fashion Awards, The Met Gala and the CFDA Fashion Awards. Lewis has also appeared on the front covers of leading publications such as Esquire, L’Officiel, L’Uomo Vogue, ICON and Men’s Health, and was listed as one of Sports Illustrated’s ‘Fashionable 50 Icons’ in 2019.
Lewis also works with a number of charities and uses his profile and social media platforms to promote and support causes important to him; including a number of charities and organisations whose work focuses on social mobility. His against-the-odds rise to the top has also made him fiercely committed to unleashing the potential in others, and in the next phase of his charitable work, he will be helping young disadvantaged people reach their goals.
Lewis will be donating all his royalties from the sale of this watch to his new charitable partnership with Comic Relief, helping young disadvantaged people in the UK and abroad.
IWC “Lewis Hamilton” Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Technical Specifications
REF. IW503002 – 51.800 € (Price includes taxes and shipping)
FEATURES
- Mechanical movement
- Pellaton automatic winding
- Power reserve display
- Perpetual calendar displaying the date, day, month and year to four figures and perpetual lunar phase for both northern and southern hemispheres
- Small hacking seconds
- Screw-in crown
- Glass secured against displacement by drops in air pressure
- Limited to 100 watches
MOVEMENT
- IWC manufacture calibre 52615
- Frequency: 28,800 A/h/4 Hz
- Jewels: 54
- Power reserve: 7 days (168 h)
- Winding Automatic
WATCH
- Materials Ceramic case, 18-carat 5N gold case back,
- Bordeaux-red dial, gold-plated hands,
- Bordeaux-red textile strap
- Crystal Sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
- Water-resistant: 6 bar
- Diameter: 46.5 mm
- Height: 15.9 mm
