IWC Pilot's Venturer Vertical Drive Black Dial White Rubber Strap Watch 44.4mm - IW328601

Drawing on 90 years of experience in crafting precision instruments for aviation, IWC’s engineering division XPL is taking the concept of a tool watch beyond the sky: the Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive has been engineered from the ground-up for human spaceflight missions. Tailored for astronauts wearing space suits with gloves, all functions can be controlled through an innovative, patent-pending rotating bezel system. A rocker switch integrated into the side of the case enables the wearer to switch between various functions, including winding the movement and setting the time.

On the black and highly legible dial, two different times can be displayed. The reference time (mission time) is indicated by a dedicated hand on the outer scale, which runs from 00:00 to 24:00. Presenting the time in a 24-hour format is a necessity in space. Since a space station orbits the Earth approximately every 90 minutes, astronauts experience up to 16 sunrises and sunsets within 24 hours. To organize their work and sleep schedules, they rely on the 24-hour format of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) or UTC (Universal Time Coordinated). The central hour and minute hands usually stay synchronized with this reference time. If required, however, the hour hand can be moved in one-hour increments to display a second time zone. An astronaut can use this function to show home time in any location on Earth. After returning to Earth, the second time zone feature can be used to display the local time at the destination of travel.

To ensure high robustness and reliable operation during all mission phases, the Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive is crafted from advanced performance materials. Its case is made of white zirconium oxide ceramic, while the rotating bezel and the case back are made of Ceratanium®. This combination makes the watch not only highly robust and scratch-proof but also immune to temperature fluctuations – an essential feature in space, where temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Celsius in direct sunlight and plummet to -150 degrees Celsius in the shade. The watch is fitted with a white integrated FKM rubber strap, providing excellent thermal insulation and resistance to UV radiation.

Inside the case, the IWC-manufactured 32722 calibre is at work. Its hybrid winding system allows winding of the watch either through the integrated oscillating mass or by turning the rotating bezel, ensuring efficient operation both on Earth and in microgravity or zero-gravity environments.

The Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive underwent rigorous testing by IWC’s partner, Vast, a company that develops next-generation space stations. Engineers at Vast conducted thorough evaluations of the watch, assessing its resistance to vibrations and pressure changes, as well as the compatibility of its materials with the environment of Haven-1, scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station.

Case:

• Ceramic case
• Diameter 44.4 mm
• Height 16.7 mm
• Water resistance 10 bar

Movement:

• 32722 Calibre
• Automatic, self-winding
• 120 hours Power Reserve
• Frequency 28800.0 vph (4.0 hz)
• 189 Components
• 21 Jewels

Features:

• Sapphire glass, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
• Central hacking seconds
• Date display
• Glass secured against displacement by drop in air pressure
• Display of a second localtime
• Display of mission time
• Rotating bezel system for controlling watch functions without a crown

IWC Style #: IW328601

IWC provides a standard 2-year International Limited Warranty and extension of an additional 6-year coverage by registering your watch through 'My IWC' after your purchase, totaling to 8 years.