The first battles of the 2025 Formula 1 season are still a couple of months away, but IWC decided to — quietly — kickstart the year with the IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XX Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team watch. We hope that the many lawyers of Mercedes, AMG, Petronas, and Formula 1 all buy one now that they made sure their company is duly represented in the name of this IWC reference IW328210.

This is the 12th year IWC is the “Official Engineering Partner” of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One™ Team. In that time, we have seen some mass-market pieces, like this Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 as well as some positively outlandish limited editions, such as this IWC Big Pilot’s Perpetual Calendar “Toto Wolff” edition. Personally, I have nightmarish fond memories of seeing live on TV Wolff bang his hand viciously on the Mercedes team’s garage equipment to ventilate his frustrations over an accident or stewards’ decision — with that gigantic, 46.2mm wide watch resiliently taking a literal beating live on air, race after race.

It wasn’t just the size that helped me notice that Perpetual but also its color. The former, not the latter does carry over to the IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XX Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team watch. It may be just 40mm wide, but its teal green — I’m sorry, Petronas green — indices, markers, and texts, as well as its strap all scream Mercedes F1 team to everyone who’s into the sport. Over time, one could argue that IWC has also made this color its own, especially since Rolex loves to discontinue cool colors on a whim (as it did with the turquoise option on various Oyster Perpetual watches), and Patek Philippe used Tiffany blue only for an unobtainable limited edition. So yeah, while it may not be for everyone, Mercedes-AMG Petronas green has sort of become IWC green.

The 40mm wide case measures just 10.6mm thick, as it should for a time-only (plus date) luxury watch. Speaking of must-haves, water resistance is rated at 10 bar (100m), the crown screws down securely against the case for peace of mind, and the strap is easy to replace using the rather silly-named “IWC EasX-CHANGE® System.” I challenge you to find a quick strap-changing system name that’s any more unique than that.

The case is crafted from lightweight titanium that appears to be sand-blasted across all its surfaces. Not the most luxurious presentation for a case, but it certainly has a cool look and an arguably authentic match for its association with something as highly technical and intensive as a Formula 1 team. The dial carries the enormous Mark XX hour and minute hands and generously sized Arabic hour markers — save for “3,” which is replaced by a color-matched date window. Personally, I am still of the belief that every marker should be lumed on an IWC Pilot’s Watch dial, but I know some love the cross-hair style application of lume on just the 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock notches and triangle, as well as the huge hands, of course.

Behind a solid titanium caseback you will find the IWC 32111 caliber, a ValFleurier-supplied movement that is very similar to the Baume & Mercier Baumatic. The 32110 used to sport 3 days of power reserve, but the updated 32111 now offers the full 5-day autonomy, though is apparently yet to receive COSC certification for its accuracy. With its 120-hour power reserve matched to a modern 4Hz operating frequency, the IWC Caliber 32111 is a more capable and more exclusive caliber than the base ETA and Sellita options you will find some others offer in this price range, but it is also true that a COSC certification would be welcome on at least these more technical limited editions.

If you are a fan of Formula 1, the Mercedes-AMG Petronas team, IWC, the Pilot’s Watch Mark XX, and/or any mix of these, chances are that this new, titanium, instantly recognizable piece will be tempting for you. Not everyone wants to stretch to a more expensive chronograph, or shares Toto Wolff’s preferences for 46+ millimeter-wide watches, so a comfy and more pure offering makes good sense. It is also a cool addition to the Mark XX line, as this is easily the most outrageous even in today’s extensive Mark XX collection. The IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XX Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team watch (IWC reference IW328210) is priced at $6,100 USD. You can learn more at the brand’s website.