IWC introduces the Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber Tourbillon Skeleton XPL

IWC has unveiled the Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber Tourbillon Skeleton XPL IW357701. A limited edition of 100 pieces, it has a price of €215,000

IWC has unveiled the Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber Tourbillon Skeleton XPL IW357701.

For the first time, the Schaffhausen-based brand has applied its patented SPRIN-g PROTECT shock absorption system to a movement incorporating a tourbillon. 

The cantilever spring, which forms the core of the system, was re-engineered to accommodate the IWC-manufactured calibre 82915, equipped with a flying minute tourbillon.

To reduce mass and optimise shock performance, the movement features a skeletonised construction with openworked plates, bridges, and rotor. 

This approach not only improves the effectiveness of the shock absorber but also exposes the underlying mechanics, including the bulk metallic glass (BMG) spring.

The watch is housed in a 44 mm × 13.1 mm Ceratanium case and fitted with a matching crown. 

Water resistance is rated at 10 bar. A black textured rubber strap with a Ceratanium pin buckle completes the design.

The tourbillon, designed to counteract the effects of gravity on timekeeping by rotating the escapement once per minute, is a highly delicate mechanism, especially vulnerable to shocks due to its compact architecture and the number of components involved. 

With this model, IWC’s experimental engineering division, XPL, has integrated advanced shock resistance into one of watchmaking’s most intricate feats.

In the event of an impact, the cantilever spring of the SPRIN-g PROTECT system compresses, reducing the transfer of acceleration forces to the movement. A decoupling crown mechanism enables the movement to shift independently of the case, enhancing overall resistance. During testing, the system demonstrated the ability to protect movements from forces of up to 1000 g. For reference, accelerations caused by a watch striking a hard surface can range between 300 and 1000 g.

The spring’s outstanding performance stems from its precise geometry and use of BMG. Designed to distribute shock forces evenly, the spring benefits from BMG’s amorphous microstructure, which makes it significantly more elastic than conventional metals. 

Creating this material poses a major engineering challenge, as the liquid metal must be cooled extremely rapidly to prevent crystallisation and retain its non-crystalline form. If the structure crystallises, the metal loses its favourable properties.

The dial is reduced to a simple black ring featuring the signature triangle at 12 o’clock and a minute scale. 

The skeletonised triangular hands are coated with Super-LumiNova.

The flying minute tourbillon, consisting of 56 parts and weighing just 0.663 grams, is prominently positioned at 6 o’clock.

Operating at a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour), the in-house Calibre 82915 includes IWC’s Pellaton winding system, reinforced with ceramic components. Bidirectional winding builds an 80-hour power reserve in the mainspring.

The new IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber Tourbillon Skeleton XPL, ref. IW357701, is a limited edition of 100 pieces with an indicative price of €215,000. iwc.com

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