IWC’s new Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive is the brand’s first space watch
Zach BlassWhen we think about watches in space, naturally, a long-established legend comes to mind. But as we enter a new era of space exploration, with new players beyond NASA, surely it’s time for a new watch, designed from the ground up, that is dedicated to space exploration and travel, right? Well, today, with its partner VAST, IWC answers the call, debuting its Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive – the brand’s first-ever tool watch engineered and certified for human spaceflight.
The case
The IWC Pilot Venturer Vertical Drive’s 100-metre water-resistant case measures 44.3mm in diameter and 16.7mm thick. That is definitely on the larger side on paper, but keep in mind that the watch has a sort of lugless, fluid continuity between the case and rubber strap. It’s strategically fashioned in white ceramic, with the bezel and caseback executed in the brand’s Ceratanium. Both materials and their matte finish minimise interaction with light, have lower heat absorption rates, and are very scratch and shock-resistant.
The fluidity of the design and its crownless nature ensure that astronauts do not need to be concerned about any protruding elements of the watch damaging any onboard equipment. This is ultimately a watch, despite being available for us civilians to purchase, that was designed from the ground up for the unique demands of human spaceflight and what optimises how one interacts with a watch in those specific conditions.
The dial
Naturally, the consideration of minimising interaction with light and reflections was also brought to the dial, a very clean layout devoid of any unnecessary colour or markings. The only slight injection of colour is found on the blue central seconds hand that points to an inner scale bordered by a thin colour-matched ring. This blue was selected as a small nod to the Earth’s oceans as seen by astronauts from space. With its deep black hue and double glareproofed crystal, in typical IWC fashion, the hours, minutes, seconds, date, and second time zone are super easy for the eye to discern.
The strap
The IWC Pilot’s Venturer Vertical drive is outfitted on a white rubber strap with a bezel and caseback-matching Ceratanium pin buckle closure. This makes complete sense as the material is rugged, lightweight, and comfortable on the wrist – exactly what an astronaut or civilian would love and need for a watch like this.
The movement
With the goal being the ultimate tool watch for human spaceflight, the key mechanism IWC developed to attain this goal, as I said before, is its new Vertical Drive mechanism. This efficient clutch system allows for the movement of the bezel to be transmitted to the winding stem, and, using the rocker switch on the left side of the case, the wearer can switch between various functions, including winding of the movement or setting the two different time zones.
This system ultimately removes the need for a crown, a protruding element that could get bumped, while also delivering a mechanism someone can far more easily interact with – even while wearing gloves. 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 central hours and minutes hands are normally synchronised with this reference time. But, if required, the hour hand can be moved in one-hour increments to display a second time zone – providing a GMT capability you can appreciate on both the earth and in outer space.
This is all possible thanks to the new IWC-manufactured 5-day automatic 32722 movement, its Vertical Drive system, and its integrated GMT module. The 5-day power reserve, of course, is a luxury and nice to have down here on Earth. But in outer space, a 5-day power reserve and easy winding solution is much more a need than a nice-to-have.
The verdict
After running through all of that, I think it’s abundantly clear that every element of the watch – the vertical drive system, the material choices, the dial layout – was meticulously considered. Therefore, in my opinion, this may not just be IWC’s first-ever wristwatch with a dedicated design for human spaceflight, but possibly the first-ever wristwatch to truly consider the needs of human spaceflight from inception.
Ultimately, though very few of us, at least at present, will ever really be able to relate to being on a spaceflight mission, mechanical watchmaking, in its obsolescence in the modern era, is less about whether or not a timepiece is the primary tool. With watchmaking, I would argue the journey can be more potent than the destination.
Of course, purchase decisions are driven by pricing, dimensions, and aesthetics. But the narrative, the why something was created, the stated mission or goal behind its creation, and the results within the context of the innate restraints of mechanical watchmaking, are definitely strong motivators too – pulling at our watch geek heartstrings.
Let’s be clear, this is a watch certified for human spaceflight, created to meet the demands of IWC’s partner VAST. So mission success. And in IWC’s embrace of meeting specific criteria VAST or other astronauts would require, the result is a distinct and novel take on a wristwatch. The irony in the watch world is that the buzz phrase or term for new watches is the word novelties. Most watches, however, upon release, if I am being totally honest, are not all that novel. And understandably so. Creating even the most traditional and conventionally designed watch is already a tall order. So, when we see a watch like this, a watch that truly lives up to the term novelty, it’s a really exciting thing.
IWC Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive pricing and availability
The IWC Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive is available now for purchase. Price: A$45,400
| Brand | IWC |
| Model | Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive |
| Reference | IW328601 |
| Case Dimensions | 44.3mm (D) x 16.7mm (T) |
| Case Material | White ceramic case, Ceratanium® bezel and caseback |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Domed sapphire front, anti-reflective coating on both sides |
| Dial | Black |
| Strap | White rubber strap, Ceratanium® pin buckle |
| Movement | 32722, IWC-manufactured, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 120 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, date, GMT, Vertical Drive |
| Availability | Now |
| Price | A$45,400 |