IWC Schaffhausen has introduced a new addition to its Pilot’s collection that moves away from traditional terrestrial aviation toward specialized spaceflight instrumentation. Unveiled at Watches and Wonders 2026, the Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive (Ref. IW328601) was engineered in partnership with space station developer Vast to meet the specific functional requirements of astronauts. All the details and live pictures are below.
Designed for operation without a crown
The most notable technical departure in this reference is the total absence of a traditional crown. Instead, IWC has developed a patent-pending rotating bezel system called “Vertical Drive” to manage all watch functions.
- Function Selection: A rocker switch on the side of the case allows the wearer to toggle between different modes, such as winding the movement or setting the time.
- Operation: Once a function is selected via the rocker, the user rotates the bezel to execute the task.
- Tactile Design: This system was designed specifically for use with pressurized space suit gloves, where small crowns are difficult to manipulate.
Case Materials and Durability
To handle the vibration and temperature extremes of spaceflight, the watch utilizes a mix of advanced performance materials.
- Main Case: Crafted from white zirconium oxide ceramic, a material with a Vickers hardness rating second only to diamond.
- Bezel and Case Back: These components are made of Ceratanium, IWC’s proprietary alloy that combines the lightness of titanium with the scratch resistance of ceramic.
- Thermal Resilience: The material choices and the FKM (fluorinated rubber) strap are designed to remain stable during temperature fluctuations ranging from 100 C in direct sunlight to −150 C in the shade.
The Movement: Caliber 32722
The Venturer Vertical Drive is powered by the IWC-manufactured 32722 caliber. This automatic movement features a significant 120-hour (5-day) power reserve.
The watch is a dual-time instrument. The mission reference time is displayed in a 24-hour format on the outer dial scale to help astronauts maintain a 24-hour Earth rhythm (UTC/GMT) while experiencing 16 sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours in orbit. The central hour hand can be adjusted in one-hour increments to show a second time zone (Home Time) without stopping the movement.
Testing and Space Qualification
Unlike many “space watches” that are modified aviation pieces, this model was type-tested at Vast’s headquarters in California specifically for the Haven-1 commercial space station environment.
- Vibration Testing: The watch was subjected to forces up to 10g, exceeding the typical 4g acceleration experienced during a rocket ascent.
- Pressure and Environment: Engineers verified material compatibility and functionality under vacuum and pressure changes.
IWC PILOT’S VENTURER VERTICAL DRIVE REF. IW328601
| Features | Mechanical movement – Date display – Rotating bezel system for controlling watch functions without a crown – Central hacking seconds |
| Watch | Materials Ceramic case, black dial, black hands, Ceratanium bezel, Ceratanium case back, white rubber strap with Ceratanium® pin buckle Sapphire, domed, antireflective coating on both sides Glass Water-resistant 10 bar Diameter 44.3 mm Height 16.7 mm |
| Movement | WC-manufactured caliber 32722 Frequency 28,800 vph / 4 Hz Jewels 21 Power reserve 120 h Winding Automatic |
The Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive is a specialized tool that prioritizes utility in a vacuum over traditional luxury aesthetics. Its launch marks IWC’s first certified entry into commercial space station hardware. For more details, visit www.iwc.com.
