IWC marks 140 years of Mercedes-Benz with Big Pilot

Historic Mercedes-Benz logo

The watch uses a 42 mm brushed and polished stainless-steel case, surrounding a black dial with solid-gold appliqués, gold-plated hands and a white minute track.

Its sapphire-glass caseback carries the first joint logo of Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft and Benz & Cie., introduced after the two companies merged in 1926. It combines Benz’s laurel wreath with Daimler’s three-pointed star, meaning the watch also references the centenary of that merger in 2026.

The case measures around 14 mm thick, uses a screw-in crown and offers 10-bar, or 100-metre, water resistance. A convex sapphire crystal receives anti-reflective treatment on both sides.

Perpetual calendar adjusts backwards

The main technical feature is IWC’s Perpetual Calendar ProSet, introduced earlier in 2026 at Watches and Wonders Geneva.

IWC’s mechanical perpetual-calendar history dates to 1985, when watchmaker Kurt Klaus developed its influential perpetual calendar. The new ProSet system substantially changes how the complication is adjusted.

The entirely gear-based mechanism allows the calendar to be moved forwards and backwards using a single crown position. Unlike many traditional perpetual calendars, it requires no separate pushers, changes between crown positions or complicated setting sequences.

The system is protected by four patents, while particularly intricate components are manufactured using the LIGA microstructuring process, based on lithography and electroforming.

Moon phase accurate for 1,040 years

The perpetual calendar uses four subdials. The date is at 3 o’clock, month at 6 o’clock, day of the week at 9 o’clock and moon phase at 12 o’clock.

IWC’s Double Moon display shows the moon phase for both northern and southern hemispheres. A newly calculated reduction gear means the display is claimed to deviate by only one day after 1,040 years.

A four-digit year display is positioned between 7 and 8 o’clock.

Power comes from the IWC-manufactured 82665 automatic calibre, featuring a nickel-phosphorus escapement and silicon hairspring. Its bidirectional Pellaton winding system uses ceramic components and provides a 60-hour power reserve.

The watch is fitted with a black rubber strap incorporating IWC’s EasX-CHANGE system, allowing it to be replaced without tools.

IWC and Mercedes partnership dates to 2004

IWC became a partner of Mercedes-AMG in 2004, meaning the two brands have worked together for 22 years. Since 2013, IWC has also been the Official Engineering Partner of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team.

The collaboration has produced several watches. These include the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Edition Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team in 2022, the Ceratanium Performance Chronograph in 2023 and the Pilot’s Watch Mark XX Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team for the start of the 2025 season.

IWC has also produced two Big Pilot editions inspired by the Mercedes-AMG G 63: one in 18-carat Armor Gold and another using a ceramic matrix composite developed in collaboration with the German Aerospace Center.

IWC CEO Chris Grainger-Herr described the relationship as having developed from a partnership into a friendship over 22 years, built around shared interests in engineering, performance and design. Mercedes-Benz board member Mathias Geisen similarly highlighted craftsmanship, innovation and attention to detail as values shared by the two brands.

Price and availability

The Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar ProSet 140 Years Mercedes-Benz is limited to 140 examples worldwide.

The reported official European price is €40,900 including VAT, equivalent to approximately AED 175,700 or US$47,845 at exchange rates on August 20, 2026. Pricing may differ by market, and IWC’s US website currently lists the model on enquiry rather than displaying a US retail price.