After years of me harassing them with emails and phone calls, IWC has finally answered my prayers and released a duo of Big Pilot’s watches inspired by the Mercedes G-Class SUV! Continuing its partnership with Mercedes, which more popularly involves the automaker’s Formula 1 team, IWC has debuted two new versions of its Big Pilot Watch, one in gold and one in ceramic, with a design that takes its cue from the Mercedes G-Class AMG C 63. Surely, my Upper West Side Parents chat is going to be abuzz.
It’s worth noting that this is far from IWC’s first go with Mercedes. Just last year, the brand released two colorful models in collaboration with the Mercedes-AMG Formula 1 works team, including a chronograph and a perpetual calendar. They also worked directly with driver Lewis Hamilton in 2019 to create a watch with a black case, red dial, and gold hands (not my cup of tea). I suppose George Russell is still waiting on his custom model, but then again, Mercedes-AMG is still waiting on George Russell, so there you are. One of my favorite elements of the IWC/Mercedes-AMG partnership is that IWC has printed one of its models on the wrist of the drivers’ racing gloves as if they’re wearing the watch during the race. Clever.
For the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch AMG G 63, the brand has chosen perhaps the most conspicuous of Mercedes, the G-Class AMG SUV. The G-Wagen, as it’s affectionately known, is not the Mercedes you get because you want to enjoy luxury and fine German engineering. While it affords those things, the real reason to get one is to show off. They start at $176,000 and quickly climb above $200,000. Similarly, these watches are priced above most other IWCs, but a lot of that is owing to cases made of two non-standard materials: Armor Gold (IW501201) and the all-black CMC (IW506201).
Both cases measure 46.2mm wide but 14.4mm thick, a rather thin measurement given the width; they should wear a bit better than many jumbo-sized watches, but don’t fool yourself into thinking these will ever be easy to manage on the wrist. They also both feature domed sapphires with anti-reflective coating and are paired with black rubber straps with microfiber inlays and deployant clasps.
The black and gold model is inspired by the recent Mercedes-AMG G Class Grand Edition, with an 18k gold case made from IWC’s proprietary Armor Gold. This hardened gold alloy resolves some of the issues softer gold can have. The black case, though, is an entirely new material for the brand. Made in concert with the German Aerospace Center, it’s crafted from ceramic matrix composite, which sees traditional carbon fibers embedded into a matrix of ceramic; you can consider this watch both carbon and ceramic. The benefits, according to the brand, are decreased weight and increased strength and temperature resistance. Visually, both have their charms, but I can’t resist the John Player Special vibes of the black and gold (And yes, I know JPS wasn’t Mercedes).
The dial is really where these watches take off. As far as I can tell, this is the first instance (or at least the only current instance) of this dial configuration for IWC in the Pilot’s collection: 3 o’clock power reserve and 9 o’clock small seconds. The reason for this is that the white-ringed subdials mirror the headlights of the G-Class; I think it’s brilliant that the brand brought this iteration of the 52010 movement into the Pilot family to make this dial better. The latticework dial texture, on the other hand, takes its look from the intake vents on AMG models. The rest of the dials are what you’d expect from IWC: exceptionally legible. Instead of the typical printed markings, though, these watches feature applied, black PVD-coated and lumed indices and markers and big, bold pilot hands, with a date (with color-matched text!) at 6 o’clock.
On the reverse, the sapphire caseback features decorations borrowed from the spare tire cover found on the back of G-Classes, with the Mercedes logo and a black bar extending to the edge. The sapphire appears to be tinted to match the case, but the brand didn’t mention this. Underneath, you can see the in-house 52010, with a decorated rotor featuring a gold inlay reading “Probus Scafusia,” which roughly translates to “Good things from Schaffhausen.” This movement offers an incredible 7-day power reserve at 28,800 vph, thanks to twin mainspring barrels. Notably, the small seconds configuration of the 52000 is thinner than the center seconds configuration, allowing this watch to be 1mm thinner than its existing 52000-equipped Pilot’s Watch counterparts.
I think these are pretty cool. Aesthetically, you’ve got depth and texture and contrast and a brooding edginess that stands on its own, with the Mercedes connection never really making itself known unless you flip the watch over. Without that branded caseback, you’ve still got two very attractive watches, with an uncommon dial layout. For those who can manage the size and price, I think these are excellent choices. The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch AMG G 63 is priced at $33,400 USD in Arbor Gold (IW501201) and $42,4000 USD in black CMC and is available immediately from IWC in boutiques and online. For more information, please visit the brand’s website.
