Long known as a pioneering brand in the world of aviation, IWC Schaffhausen went above and beyond the call of robustness and precision in its newest Big Pilot’s Shock Absorber XPL watch. Designed to withstand incredible shocks, the watch houses a number of important IWC developments. It is the first timepiece to incorporate IWC’s patented new shock absorber system that was more than eight years in the making. The Sprin-g Protect system is made using Bulk Metallic Glass (BMG) for the cantilever spring, which protects the movement against g-forces. It has been tested by an outside laboratory and withstood accelerations in excess of a whopping 30,000g.
The XPL (which stands for experimental) watch is made of the brand’s proprietary Ceratanium® alloy that is light and rugged, and that possesses the same hardness and scratch resistance as ceramic. Even the IWC manufacture caliber 32115 movement is custom-made using lightweight components made from materials such as high-tech aluminium alloys. A unique crown system allows the movement to shift independently of the case when exposed to shocks. Because the XPL is so challenging and complex to make, its annual production will be limited to 10 pieces a year.
$83,600, available at IWC boutiques worldwide, iwc.com
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