NEWS

When our engineering division XPL developed the Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive, they did not simply adapt an existing watch design for use in space. They took a blank sheet of paper and worked to define from scratch what a tool watch for astronauts would have to offer in terms of functionality, ease of operation, time display and material execution. Every single detail of this watch has been single-mindedly optimized for the unique requirements of human spaceflight and timekeeping in space. It was crucial for us to put the final watch into the experienced hands of real space professionals. After undergoing rigorous testing by our partner, Vast, the Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive is the first IWC watch that has received certification for spaceflight.

-Chris Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen

DESIGNED FOR OPERATION WITHOUT A CROWN 

The Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive features an innovative, patent-pending rotating bezel system that allows all watch functions to be controlled without the use of a crown. Inspired by the scenario of astronauts wearing a space suit during spacewalks (EVA, or Extravehicular Activity), the ultimate exploration moment, the watch is designed to be able to be operated while wearing gloves. 

The movements of the bezel are transmitted to the winding stem through an efficient clutch system known as “Vertical Drive.” A rocker switch on the side of the case enables the wearer to change between various functions, including winding the movement or setting the two different time zones. The watch can be wound using the integrated oscillating mass or by rotating the bezel anti-clockwise. This hybrid winding system ensures efficient operation both on Earth and in microgravity or zero-gravity environments. 

DISPLAYING THE MISSION’S REFERENCE TIME IN 24-HOUR FORMAT 

The Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive boasts a matte black dial that is reduced to the absolute essentials and avoids light reflections. With highly legible markings, it displays two different times. The mission’s reference time is indicated by the central hour and minute hand, and also in 24-hour format by a dedicated hand on the outer dial scale, which runs from 00:00 to 24:00.

The necessity for a 24-hour display comes from the fact that a spacecraft or a space station completes an orbital cycle around the Earth roughly every 90 minutes. This means astronauts experience as many as 16 sunrises and sunsets within a 24-hour period. To manage this rapid sequence of day and night, they adhere to GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) or UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). These formats retain the familiar 24-hour rhythm of Earth time, enabling the crew to keep a consistent routine with work and sleep times while in space. 

The central hour and minute hands are normally synchronized with this reference time. If required, however, the hour hand can be moved in one-hour increments to display a second time zone. An astronaut in space can use this function, for example, to show the home time in any location on Earth. After returning to Earth, the second time zone feature transforms the watch into the quintessential companion for frequent flyers: with a simple turn of the bezel, it can be set to display the time at the destination of travel. 

The edges of the black triangular hour and minute hands are coated with green Super-LumiNova^®, while the arrow-shaped tip of the 24-hour hand glows blue in the dark. The blue second hand points to the inner scale, which features a thin ring in the same shade of blue. The color is a nod to the horizon of the Earth as seen by astronauts from space. 

This dual-time display is made possible by the newly engineered IWC-manufactured 32722 caliber, an efficient automatic movement with a 120-hour power reserve that includes an integrated GMT module. There is also a date indication at 3 o’clock.

EXTREME ROBUSTNESS AND PERFORMANCE 

When ascending to space on a rocket, the engines generate powerful vibrations and astronauts experience acceleration forces of up to 4g, which is equivalent to four times the force of gravity on Earth. In space, hardware is exposed to vacuum, radiation and extreme fluctuations in temperature. Temperatures can exceed 100 °C in direct sunlight and plummet to -150 °C in the shade. 

To ensure high robustness and reliable operation during all phases of a mission, the Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive is crafted entirely from advanced performance materials. Its case is made of white zirconium oxide ceramic. With a Vickers hardness rating second only to diamond, ceramic ranks among the hardest substances on Earth. The rotating bezel and case back are crafted from Ceratanium^®. Developed by IWC, Ceratanium^® combines the lightness and structural integrity of titanium with a hardness and scratch resistance similar to that of ceramic. The combination of these two materials makes the watch not only highly robust and resilient but also immune to temperature fluctuations and corrosion. The case back features an engraving that symbolically evokes a space vehicle, reflecting humanity’s curiosity and spirit of exploration.

The Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive is fitted with a white integrated FKM rubber strap. FKM (fluorinated rubber) offers excellent thermal insulation and is resistant to UV radiation, ensuring extreme durability.