The anticipation of Apple Original Film’s upcoming movie, F1, reaches its penultimate week as the film is set to premiere on the big screens in the coming days. With director Joseph Kosinski, screenwriter Ehren Kruger and producer Jerry Bruckheimer reuniting again after Top Gun: Maverick, the film is also produced by seven-time Formula One World Champion driver Lewis Hamilton and Brad Pitt. It stars Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Javier Bardem, and Kerry Condon and follows veteran racer Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) and rookie Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) of the fictional 11th F1™ team APXGP, which promises drama, adrenaline-charged race scenes, and a healthy dose of IWC Schaffhausen watches. 

By now, the matrimony between Formula 1 teams and watch manufactures is nothing new, and even though IWC’s watches are rightly considered movie costumes, the partnership captures the realism that mirrors the real-world sport. With that in mind, IWC brings its real-world expertise with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team to Hollywood as APXGP’s sponsor and official team watch.

IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40

A collaboration between IWC and Cloister Watch Company, a design studio specialising in creating bespoke timepieces from vintage watches, forms the foundation of Sonny Hayes’ watch — a bespoke creation based on the legendary IWC Ingenieur SL ref. 1832. Instead of the usual black dial, the watch is customised with a green dial that represents Hayes’ signature colour.

While it may be nigh-impossible to get our hands on that watch (it might hit auctions in the future, who knows?), IWC has unveiled the IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40 with a similar green grid dial with gold-plated appliques. With a 40mm stainless steel case and integrated bracelet construction, the timepiece sits comfortably among other present-day integrated bracelets, luxury sports watch contemporaries.

Good looks aside, the 1000-piece limited edition Ingenieur Automatic 40 still bears the hallmark of its heyday — a soft-iron inner case that acts as a shield for the Calibre 32111 (with 120 hours of power reserve) against the effects of magnetic fields.

IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 

While Sonny Hayes opts for a vintage watch, rookie driver Joshua Pearce spots the flashier IWC Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41 clad in an 18k 5N gold case as the perfect contrast between past and current generations. The watch is produced as part of a trilogy alongside two other references that will be featured as the official team watches and worn by different characters in the film. Pearce’s choice features an ornate combination of a 41mm 18k 5N gold case, a black lacquered dial with gold appliques and gold-plated hands, and a black ceramic tachymeter bezel.

Two other stainless steel references, the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph APXGP (43mm) and IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 APXGP (41mm), are released and dedicated to the APXGP team. Clad in black, gold and white across the various watch elements, the colours evoke the Formula 1 team’s racing livery. Other nods to the racing team include a tinted sapphire case back bearing a gold printing of APXGP’s team logo and a special laser engraving on the accompanying black rubber straps.

All three watches feature IWC’s vertical subdial layout and are powered by the IWC-manufactured chronograph Calibre 69385 (46-hour power reserve), engineered for top-class performance, reliability, and precision in all conditions, including extreme G-forces. All three watches feature a 100m water-resistant case and IWC’s EasX-CHANGE® system, enabling the wearer to change them at the touch of a button without any tools.

As the anticipation builds for the release of F1, the intricate blend of cinematic storytelling and horological expertise is evident. With IWC’s strategic placement within the film, the watches serve not only as props but also as symbolic extensions of the characters and their narratives, bridging the gap between the high-octane world of Formula 1 and the refined craftsmanship of luxury timepieces.

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