IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph APXGP

IWC has carved out a significant niche for itself since its inception in 1868. Founded by American engineer Florentine Ariosto Jones in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, the company aimed to merge Swiss craftsmanship with American industrial technology. This unique approach laid the groundwork for a legacy built on robust engineering, precision, and functionally driven design, particularly evident in their famed Pilot's Watch collections which first took to the skies in the 1930s. These timepieces were initially conceived as essential tools for aviators, emphasizing legibility, durability, and resistance to magnetic fields and temperature fluctuations.



Over the decades, IWC's Pilot's Watches evolved from purely professional instruments into highly regarded luxury sports watches, yet they retain the core DNA of their predecessors. The brand's commitment to technical excellence wasn't confined to aviation; IWC has also fostered a strong connection with the world of high-performance motorsport. This synergy is rooted in shared values: cutting-edge engineering, the pursuit of maximum performance, teamwork, and meticulous attention to detail. These principles resonate deeply in both watchmaking and elite auto racing.



The connection to motorsport, specifically Formula One, became more formalized and visible through IWC's long-standing partnership with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. Serving as the team's Official Engineering Partner since 2013, IWC has drawn inspiration from the materials, technology, and sheer intensity of F1 racing. This collaboration has yielded numerous special edition watches, often incorporating advanced materials like ceramic and Ceratanium®, reflecting the technical innovation prevalent in Grand Prix cars. The design cues often echo the team's livery and the dynamic aesthetics of the sport.



Now, IWC bridges the gap between the real world of Formula One and the cinematic depiction of it with the launch of two new Pilot's Watch Chronograph models. These watches are tied to the upcoming sports action drama film, simply titled "F1," directed by Joseph Kosinski and starring Brad Pitt. The film, set for release internationally on June 25, 2025, and in the US and Canada on June 27, 2025, delves into the high-stakes environment of the Formula One World Championship. It promises a compelling narrative featuring fictional characters and teams alongside the real-world spectacle of F1.



The movie's plot centers around Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), a former F1 driver from the 1990s coaxed out of retirement by team owner Ruben (Javier Bardem). Hayes' mission is to mentor a young prodigy, Joshua "Noah" Pearce (Damson Idris), for the fictional Apex Grand Prix team, known as APXGP. This narrative backdrop provides the inspiration for the new IWC timepieces, which are dedicated to bringing the fictional APXGP team's identity to life on the wrist.



IWC introduces two distinct references under the Pilot's Watch Chronograph APXGP banner: the IW388116 in a 41mm case and the IW378009 in a larger 43mm case. Both watches serve as tangible links to the movie's world, adopting the fictional APXGP team's color scheme of black, gold, and white. They represent a unique intersection of horology, cinema, and motorsport, offering fans of each realm a distinct collector's item. While differing slightly in size, they share the core design language and technical underpinnings.



The visual identity of both APXGP chronographs is immediately established by their striking black dials. This forms a strong base for the contrasting elements inspired by the team colors. Legibility, a hallmark of IWC Pilot's Watches, is ensured by prominent white printed numerals marking the hours. Adding a layer of richness and connection to the fictional team's branding, the minute markers encircling the dial are rendered in a distinct golden hue. This color combination creates a look that is both sporty and assertive.



Further enhancing the dial's character are the hands. The main hour and minute hands, along with the hands residing in the three subdials, are gold-plated. This consistent use of gold provides warmth against the black background and ties into the overall APXGP theme. To ensure readability in low-light conditions, a critical feature for any pilot-inspired watch, these gold-plated hands are generously filled with white Super-LumiNova®, mirroring the white used for the hour numerals and ensuring the time can be read at a glance, day or night. The day and date are displayed neatly through apertures at the 3 o'clock position.



The arrangement of the chronograph subdials follows IWC's characteristic vertical layout, known for its intuitive readability. The subdial at 12 o'clock displays the stopped chronograph minutes (up to 60), while the subdial at 9 o'clock tracks the elapsed chronograph hours (up to 12). The small seconds hand, indicating the continuous running seconds of the watch, resides in the subdial at 6 o'clock. This configuration keeps the crucial chronograph information clustered towards the top half of the dial for quick reference during timing operations.



Turning attention to the case, the reference IW388116 features a well-proportioned stainless steel construction measuring 41.0 millimeters in diameter and 14.5 millimeters in height. This size aligns with contemporary preferences for versatile sports chronographs, offering substantial presence without being overly large for most wrists. The stainless steel provides durability and a familiar heft, finished with the satin brushing and polished accents typical of IWC's Pilot's line, emphasizing its tool-watch heritage while adding touches of refinement.



For those preferring a bolder statement, the reference IW378009 offers a larger stainless steel case measuring 43.0 millimeters across and 14.8 millimeters thick. This version provides increased wrist presence, amplifying the sporty nature of the chronograph. The slight increase in height accommodates the larger diameter while maintaining balanced proportions. Like its smaller sibling, it utilizes robust stainless steel, ensuring it's built to withstand daily wear and activity.



Both case sizes share essential features designed for performance and reliability. A convex sapphire crystal protects the dial. This crystal is treated with an anti-reflective coating on both sides, minimizing glare and maximizing clarity for easy reading under various lighting conditions. Crucially for a watch bearing the Pilot's name, the crystal is secured against displacement caused by sudden drops in air pressure – a technical feature born from real-world aviation requirements, safeguarding the watch's integrity during flight or other activities involving pressure changes.



Water resistance for both models is rated at 10.0 bar, equivalent to approximately 100 meters. While not dedicated dive watches, this level of resistance makes them suitable for swimming and showering, adding to their versatility as everyday sports watches. This practical feature ensures peace of mind for wearers engaging in various activities, aligning with the robust nature expected from an IWC Pilot's Chronograph.



Flipping either watch over reveals a see-through sapphire glass case back, offering a view of the intricate mechanics within. This exhibition back is made distinctive by its tinted sapphire glass, which adds a subtle smokiness to the view. More prominently, the glass is adorned with the fictional "APXGP" team logo, printed in a bold gold color. This feature serves as a direct and unmistakable tribute to the watch's cinematic inspiration, clearly marking it as part of the collaboration with the "F1" movie.



Driving both the 41mm and 43mm APXGP chronographs is the IWC-manufactured 69385 calibre. This movement is an automatic winding mechanical chronograph, engineered with an uncompromising focus on robustness, reliability, and precision – qualities essential in both high-performance watchmaking and motorsport. Its construction signifies IWC's commitment to in-house movement development and production, ensuring control over quality and performance characteristics.



The architecture of the 69385 calibre is based on a classic column-wheel design. This mechanism is often favored in higher-end chronographs for its precise and satisfying pusher feel when starting, stopping, and resetting the chronograph function. It's a more complex system to manufacture compared to cam-actuated chronographs, reflecting the movement's sophisticated engineering. The chronograph function itself is capable of measuring stop times accurately up to 12 hours, making it practical for timing longer events.



Energy for the movement is generated by a bidirectional pawl winding system. This efficient automatic winding mechanism captures the energy from the wearer's wrist movements in both directions of the rotor's swing, effectively winding the mainspring. When fully wound, the mainspring stores a power reserve of 46 hours, allowing the watch to run for nearly two days off the wrist without needing to be wound manually. The movement operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (VPH), or 4 Hertz, a standard frequency for modern mechanical movements that balances accuracy and longevity.



Comprising 242 individual components and utilizing 33 jewels to reduce friction at critical points, the Calibre 69385 is a complex piece of micro-engineering. Although built for performance, IWC ensures the movement is also aesthetically pleasing, visible through the exhibition case back. The decoration includes traditional Swiss watchmaking finishes such as Côtes de Genève (Geneva stripes) on the bridges and rotor, and Perlage (circular graining) on the mainplate. These decorative touches highlight the craftsmanship involved in its creation.



Both APXGP models are fitted with a durable black rubber strap. This material choice enhances the sporty character of the watches and offers practical benefits, being comfortable, waterproof, and resistant to wear. Integrating the movie theme further, the strap features a special laser engraving that also commemorates the fictional APXGP team, adding another layer of exclusivity and connection to the film.



A key feature enhancing the user experience is IWC's proprietary EasX-CHANGE® system. This innovative mechanism allows the wearer to change the strap quickly and easily at the touch of a button, without requiring any special tools. This provides versatility, enabling the owner to swap straps to suit different occasions or preferences effortlessly. The strap width differs slightly between the two models, measuring 20.0 mm for the 41mm IW388116 and 21.0 mm for the 43mm IW378009.



The IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph APXGP editions blend the brand's established aviation watch codes with the excitement generated by both real-world Formula One and its upcoming cinematic portrayal. The black, gold, and white color scheme derived from the fictional APXGP team gives these watches a distinct identity within the broader Pilot's collection. Powered by a robust in-house chronograph movement and featuring practical elements like 100m water resistance and the EasX-CHANGE system, they are well-equipped for daily wear while carrying a unique story linked to the silver screen.



These watches appeal to IWC enthusiasts, motorsport fans, and movie buffs alike. They offer a tangible piece of the "F1" movie universe, backed by the quality and engineering prowess IWC is known for. The choice between the 41mm and 43mm case sizes allows potential buyers to select the version that best suits their wrist size and style preference, without compromising on the core features or the special APXGP branding.



The IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41 APXGP (Ref. IW388116) is priced at $6,800 USD. The larger IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph APXGP (Ref. IW378009) with the 43mm case is priced slightly higher at $7,000 USD. These timepieces represent a special offering tied to a major motion picture release and are available through IWC boutiques and authorized retail partners.



Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 APXGP:



Case: Stainless steel, 41.0 mm diameter, 14.5 mm height. See-through tinted sapphire glass back with gold APXGP logo print. Water resistance 10.0 bar. Glass secured against displacement by drop in air pressure.

Movement: IWC-manufactured 69385 Calibre, automatic winding. Features chronograph function (hours, minutes, seconds), day/date display, small hacking seconds. 46-hour power reserve, 28'800 VPH (4 Hz), 242 components, 33 jewels. Decorated with Côtes de Genève, Perlage. Classic column-wheel design.

Dial: Black dial with white numerals and golden minute markers. Gold-plated hour, minute, and subdial hands filled with white Super-LumiNova®. Convex sapphire glass with anti-reflective coating on both sides.

Strap: Black rubber strap, 20.0 mm width, with special APXGP laser engraving. Features IWC EasX-CHANGE® system for tool-free changes.

Price: $6,800

Reference Number: IW388116

Notes: Dedicated to the fictional APXGP team from the movie F1®. Design uses team colors: black, gold, white.





Pilot’s Watch Chronograph APXGP



Case: Stainless steel, 43.0 mm diameter, 14.8 mm height. See-through tinted sapphire glass back with gold APXGP logo print. Water resistance 10.0 bar. Glass secured against displacement by drop in air pressure.

Movement: IWC-manufactured 69385 Calibre, automatic winding. Features chronograph function (hours, minutes, seconds), day/date display, small hacking seconds. 46-hour power reserve, 28'800 VPH (4 Hz), 242 components, 33 jewels. Decorated with Côtes de Genève, Perlage. Classic column-wheel design.

Dial: Black dial with white numerals and golden minute markers. Gold-plated hour, minute, and subdial hands filled with white Super-LumiNova®. Convex sapphire glass with anti-reflective coating on both sides.

Strap: Black rubber strap, 21.0 mm width, with special APXGP laser engraving. Features IWC EasX-CHANGE® system for tool-free changes.

Price: $7,000

Reference Number: IW378009

Notes: Dedicated to the fictional APXGP team from the movie F1®. Design uses team colors: black, gold, white. Larger 43mm case compared to its sibling model.