INTRODUCING: The IWC x Hot Wheels Racing Works Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition

Zach Blass

While many people around the world are passionate about watches, they are generally not their sole obsessions. Within our community, many are also enamoured with all manner of other things ranging from whiskey to baseball. But one area of interest that that seems to overlap with watches a great deal is that of motorsports. While watches have been created to coincide with actual vehicles, like Jacob & Co. and Bugatti, IWC has just announced that it’s teamed up with beloved toy car manufacturer Hot Wheels. With a limited-edition collectors set of 50 pieces, IWC and Hot Wheels look to speak to the child in all of us with the new IWC x Hot Wheels Racing Works Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition as a part of the the IWC x Hot Wheels “Racing Works” collector’s set.

As a NYC boy, admittedly I am not a car expert – so I am going to focus primarily on the IWC x Hot Wheels Racing Works Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition. The grade 5 titanium case, 43mm x 14.9mm, has a sandblasted finish that gives the grey metal a sort of stealth vibe. While there are hairline bevels to the lug shoulders, nothing will glisten here where you would normally have polished elements (i.e the bezel). On the 9′ side of the 60 metre water-resistant case, you will notice a special Hot Wheels engraving to signal the collaborative nature of the piece and the collector’s set it is a part of.

Probably the most striking and distinguishing aspect of the IWC x Hot Wheels Racing Works Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition is its racing flag-inspired dial. The laser engraved squares, with alternating tones, create a chequered aesthetic with a subtle gradient darkening as you approach the centre of the dial. The squares are engraved in a warped pattern that adds depth and dimension to its character, like a flag blowing in the wind. Its surface has a grained texture that matches the sandblasted nature of the titanium case, and the varying tones of grey and black provide a noir classic vibe. At 12′, 9′, and 6′, you have elapsed minutes, elapsed hours, and running seconds registers respectively – each with a concentric texture to incorporate different play with light to create easier discernibility. Look to 3′ and you’ll find the IWC branding and dual aperture day-date complication with dial matching light gray on dark grey discs. Each of the register hands, central hours and minutes hands, as well as the hot indices are coated with SuperLuminova® to provide visibility in darkness.

The IWC x Hot Wheels Racing Works Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition is offered on a leather reinforced black and grey NATO strap with what appears to be a mixed finished pin-buckle clasp engraved with the IWC logo. It really suits the watch well, its colours matching the aesthetic of the dial. But I am surprised with the buckle and loop finishes, as their surfaces don’t match that of the case – at least in the provided assets.

Beneath a smoked sapphire glass exhibition caseback you will find the IWC-manufactured calibre 69385, an industrially decorated and robust automatic movement with 46 hours of power reserve. The engravings and etchings into the glass do obstruct the view in its centre, with the 68 number logo to match the design of the Hot Wheels Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Racing Works Edition” car included in the set.

IWC x Hot Wheels Racing Works Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition pricing and availability:

The IWC x Hot Wheels Racing Works Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition is limited to 50 pieces. The collector’s set contains the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “IWC x Hot Wheels™ Racing Works” and the Hot Wheels Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Racing Works Edition”and is presented in a metal toolbox. The first set will be auctioned online by international auction house Bonhams with the proceeds going to the Two Bit Circus Foundation. The auction is live as of October 16th, which you can find here. Price: $10,000 USD for each of the remaining 49 watches