Last week, two drivers of the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, received their own Ingenieur Chronograph Limited Editions, just before the start of the Singapore Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg
Together with the Swiss luxury watchmaker, IWC Schaffhausen, the two Silver Arrow drivers and the brand’s ambassadors present their own personal Ingenieur Chronograph, each limited to 250 specimens. Although the two rivals had a bit of a clash during the Belgian Grand in Spa-Francorchamps, last week they shared together their passion for mechanical wristwatches.
“Lewis and Nico are not only unique personalities and incredibly successful sportsmen, but also very creative. They were both immediately very interested in the idea of launching two limited special edition watches. I’m confident that these unusual timepieces will be equally popular with motorsport enthusiasts and watch connoisseurs,” said Georges Kern, the CEO of IWC Schaffhausen.
Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg IWC Ingenieur Chronograph Watches
IWC Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “Lewis Hamilton” (ref. IW379602) and IWC Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “Nico Rosberg” (ref. IW379603) are both powered with the IWC’s in-house caliber 89361 mechanical chronograph movements, each tooled with IWC’s double-pawl winding system which ensures a very efficient winding.
The impeccable mechanism is built on 38 jewels and oscillates at the rapid frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz). The movement comes with 68 hours of power reserve. The chronograph is equipped with a flyback function, that comes in easy for measuring pit-stop times.
IWC Lewis Hamilton Ingenieur Chronograph Watch
Both limited editons are housed in titanium cases, each measuring 45mm in diameter and 15.5mm in thickness. The rugged case incorporates a crown, crown protection and screw heads crafted from zirconium oxide. The water resistance is assured down to 120 meters (approximately 400 feet).
Underneath the flat sapphire glass that is shielded with antireflective coating on both sides, lies either a black carbon-fiber dial (for Lewis Hamilton model) or the silver-plated one (for Nico Rosberg timepiece) each featuring indices and hands coated with Superluminova for better legibility in low light conditions. The dial also comprises two totalizers. The upper counter at the 12 o’clock position displays clocked hours and minutes as clearly as the time of the day, while the lower one at the 6 o’clock position is a small seconds sub-dial which also incorporates a small date window. Stopped times up to one minute are measured by the central seconds hand.
Lewis Hamilton
Considering the fact that the Lewis Hamilton prefers metal bracelets, IWC chose rugged, skin-friendly titanium bracelet for its own Ingenieur Chronograph Edition timepiece. The bracelet ends with a precision-adjustment folding clasp in titanium.
IWC Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “Nico Rosberg” is teamed with a comfortable, black rubber strap which has an added touch of luxury thanks to its embossed calfskin inlay and gray quilted stitching.
IWC Nico Rosberg Ingenieur Chronograph Watch Case
Together with these two exceptional timepieces, IWC also announced the renewal of its current partnership with the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team for the further 3 years. The Schaffhausen-based luxury watch manufacturer became the team’s Official Engineering Partner at the start of the 2013 racing season and has now confirmed its commitment until the end of the 2018 season.
“We and the racing team’s technicians are linked by a common passion for outstanding engineering, skilled craftsmanship and innovation,” Georges Kern said. “And with the team’s drivers we share a desire to deliver ultimate precision and unmatched performance,” IWC’s CEO concluded.
