F1’s George Russell gets his own IWC special editions in black ceramic and his signature blue colorway
Andrew O'Connor- IWC collaborates with Mercedes’ Formula 1 driver George Russell on two new limited edition pilot’s watches.
- Previously, Russell has been spotted wearing a custom ceramic Ingenieur – now he has his own signature models.
- Limited to 1,063 pieces for each model, the Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 and Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 have been clad in black ceramic and treated with George Russell’s signature blue colourway.
British driver George Russell has long been considered one of the most exciting young drivers on the planet, with 2026 marking his eighth year racing in Formula 1. Part of the Mercedes Junior Team, the five-time Grand Prix winner started his F1 career with Williams, and then moved to Mercedes in 2022, regularly outshining his teammate, seven-time World Driver’s Champion Lewis Hamilton. He has proven himself as an exceedingly talented driver, especially giving McLaren a run for its money last season and overcoming difficulties with regulatory changes. With all of his accomplishments by 27 years of age, it seems high time that Mercedes’ long-time watch partner IWC celebrated Russell’s talent with his own limited edition watch.
These new George Russell models are a collaboration between IWC, Russell, and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, to give it its full name. As is the trend with IWC’s recent Formula 1-focused releases, the new George Russell limited editions take the Pilot’s platform. This special edition features Russell’s signature blue as the accent colour. While Russell’s original Mercedes team helmet was black, he was quickly able to switch to this cyan tone, which has become a prominent element of Russell’s official branding. Last year, Russell was spotted wearing a customised black ceramic Ingenieur with a dial coloured in his signature blue: that watch isn’t available to the public, but these two pilot’s watches are.
The rubber strap, lume, and dial printing are all done in Russell’s signature blue: IWC even colour-matched the date wheel, featuring a black background with blue printing matching the indices and lume. Like his Ingenieur, these Pilot’s Watches cases are made of black ceramic and are water resistant to 100 meters, but a nice new feature is that they feature black Ceratanium (IWC’s proprietary blend of ceramic and titanium) for the crowns, pushers for the chronograph, and pin-buckles. The convex sapphire crystals have anti-reflective treatment on both sides, and are secured to prevent being displaced with sudden drops in air pressure, a testament to these being true aviation-focused tool watches.
The blue rubber straps also feature IWC’s EasX-Change system, allowing for easy swapping between IWC straps. There are still conventional spring bars, should you wish to use your own third-party straps. Both models have an engraved case back with Russell’s racing number “63” proudly presented in the centre, with serial number, water resistance, and “one of 1,063” around the perimeter of the centre engraving.
The Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 George Russell measures 41mm in diameter and 11.4mm thick. Inside is the IWC-manufactured automatic calibre 32112, which operates at 28,800 vph, has 21 jewels, a date function, and a 120-hour power reserve. Meanwhile, the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 George Russell measures 41.9mm in diameter, 15.5mm thick and is powered by the IWC-manufactured automatic calibre 69380. The 69380 features a 12-hour chronograph, day and date functions, 33 jewels, a 46-hour power reserve, and operates at 28,800 vph.
Closing thoughts
IWC has been partnered with the Mercedes team since 2013, a partnership that IWC Chief Marketing Officer Franziska Gsell has noted as being a collaboration with not only the organisation but also with the drivers. As a casual F1 fan personally, and a fan of Russell, I am pleased to see that he is receiving his own special editions. While this shade of blue is Russell’s signature colour, I think it also works in the context of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas colours, as it stays in the same wheelhouse while being different enough.
I’m also a big fan of IWC’s ceramic Pilot’s Watches, and hope to add one to my personal collection one day. This is the first ceramic-cased Pilot’s Watch that I’m aware of that has Ceratanium for the crown and chronograph pushers. Previous iterations utilise titanium, which makes for a cool two-tone look, but the black Ceratanium makes it more cohesive. Hopefully, this is a material choice we’ll see in future models.
IWC Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 and Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 George Russel pricing and availability
The IWC Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 and Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 special editions for George Russell will be available from February 5th, 2026, and are both limited to 1,063 pieces each (a reference to Russell’s driving number, 63). Price: A$14,000 (Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41), A$19,000 (Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41)
| Brand | IWC | IWC |
| Model | Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 George Russell | Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 George Russell |
| Reference Number | IW328107 | IW389411 |
| Case Dimensions | 41mm (D) x 11.4mm (T) | 41.9mm (D) x 15.5mm (T) |
| Case Material | Black ceramic, Ceratanium crown | Black ceramic, Ceratanium crown and chronograph pushers |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres, screw-down crown | 100 metres, screw-down crown |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front | Sapphire front |
| Dial | Matte black with George Russell blue indices, lume, and date | Matte black with George Russell blue indices, lume, and day/date |
| Lug Width | 20mm | 20mm |
| Strap | George Russell blue rubber strap, EasX-Change strap system, pin buckle | George Russell blue rubber strap, EasX-Change strap system, pin buckle |
| Movement | Calibre 32112, IWC-manufactured, automatic | Calibre 69380, IWC-manufactured, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 120 hours (5 days) | 46 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, date | Hours, minutes, small seconds, day, date, chronograph |
| Availability | Limited edition of 1,063 pieces | Limited edition of 1,063 pieces |
| Price | A$14,000 | A$19,000 |