Detached from gravity – IWC Schaffhausen presents the Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive
IWC Schaffhausen has unveiled the “Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive,” a wristwatch specifically designed for use in manned spaceflight.
Chris Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen, explains:
“When our engineering division, XPL, developed the ‘Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive,’ it didn’t simply modify an existing watch design for use in space. It started from scratch and fundamentally redefined what a tool watch for astronauts must offer in terms of functionality, usability, time display, and materials. Every single detail of this watch has been consistently optimized for the specific requirements of manned spaceflight and timekeeping in space. A crucial step for us was to place the finished watch in the experienced hands of real space professionals. Following rigorous testing by our partner Vast, the ‘Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive’ is now the first IWC watch to be certified for spaceflight.”
Unlike traditional pilot’s watches, this model does not feature a crown at all. Instead, it is operated via a patent-pending rotating bezel system that allows the wearer to control all functions.
In addition, a toggle switch on the side of the case allows the user to switch between various functions, such as winding the movement and setting the home or mission time. The design is intended to ensure that the watch can be operated even while wearing a spacesuit and gloves.
The case (44.3 x 16.7 mm), which is water-resistant to 10 bar, is made of zirconium oxide ceramic and Ceratanium, a titanium alloy developed by IWC with enhanced surface hardness. This combination of materials is designed to withstand vibrations, pressure changes, and extreme temperatures. The watch was tested in collaboration with the space company Vast and certified for missions to the planned Haven-1 space station.
The dial has been deliberately kept simple to improve readability. In addition to the central time display, the watch features a 24-hour hand that serves as a reference time for missions and is based on GMT or UTC. A second time zone can also be set. There is also a date display at the 3 o’clock position.
These schedules maintain the familiar 24-hour cycle of Earth time, allowing the crew in space to follow a consistent daily routine with clearly defined work and sleep periods.
Inside, the newly developed in-house Caliber 32722 features automatic winding and a power reserve of 120 hours. The watch can be wound either using the integrated rotor or by turning the bezel counterclockwise. This hybrid winding system ensures efficient operation both on Earth and in environments with microgravity or zero gravity.
Prior to certification, the model underwent extensive stress testing. This included vibration tests with accelerations of up to 10 g, similar to those that can occur during a rocket launch.
Kelton Temby, Senior Mission Manager at Vast, explains: “Every item transported to Haven-1, the world’s first commercial space station, must undergo thorough testing and qualification. This is to ensure that it can withstand launch conditions and will not cause harm to either the crew or the station. In the case of the watch, we also specifically checked whether it continued to function correctly after each test, including winding and time setting using the rotating bezel system.”
(MSRP: €28,600)
