IWC and George Russell unveil two Pilot’s watches, limited to 1,063 pieces apiece
We’ve barely cleared the starting blocks of the new year, yet it seems IWC Schaffhausen never did lift its foot from the accelerator. Fresh from the cultural momentum that followed the brand through 2025—buoyed in part by its involvement in the Formula One film (well worth your time, if you’ve yet to see it)—the watchmaker has unveiled two limited-edition timepieces imbued with the same high-octane energy.
The result of a collaboration with George Russell, the British driver who joined the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team in 2022, IWC has released two stylish Pilot’s Watches adorned with striking blue dial details and matching straps. The calming hue is no accident; the colour, which is present in Russell’s current helmet design, has formed a central part of Russell’s racing identity throughout his career.
This signature blue finds its most vivid expression in the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 George Russell (Ref. IW389411). Rendered in an exquisite combination of black ceramic and electric blue accents, the watch takes the familiar Pilot’s Watch Chronograph silhouette and gives it a sharper, more contemporary edge.
Crafted from black zirconium oxide ceramic, a material IWC first introduced to the watchmaking world in 1986, the 41.9mm case sports a matte finish that provides a restrained backdrop for the blue numerals, indices, and subdials to catch the eye. Completing the composition is a blue rubber strap that gives the timepiece a cohesive look.
Powered by the in-house calibre 69380, an automatic chronograph movement offering a 46-hour power reserve, the timepiece is adorned with an additional flourish on its titanium case back: an engraving bearing Russell’s racing number, 63.
While the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41, with its chronograph pushers and subdials, is imbued with a certain machismo, its counterpart offers a more restrained take.
Sporting the classic IWC design language, the Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 George Russell (Ref. IW328107) is housed in the same case material, this time in a slightly smaller 41mm size. Pair this silhouette with its clean-cut aesthetics, however, and the effect of the striking blue hue is accentuated further, resulting in a timepiece that is both eye-catching yet understated.
Adorned with the same ’63’ engraving on its caseback, the timepiece is powered by the in-house automatic calibre 32112, which includes a double-pawl winding system that provides a power reserve of 120 hours.
