SimplyAbuDhabi XVI

1 0 1 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I LEWIS HAMILTON When Lewis Hamilton visited IWC’s workshops a year ago, he was reportedly extremely impressed by the expertise and high-tech approach of the company’s watchmakers. Subsequently, he participated in a workshop with the design team to test the effects of various materials, colours and surface structures. The elite racing driver prefers metal bracelets, and as such he chose rugged, skin-friendly titanium for his Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “Lewis Hamilton”. In doing so, he also created the only watch in the entire IWC collection with a titanium bracelet. NICO ROSBERG A young Nico Rosberg once received an IWCwatch as a gift from his father and ever since he has had close links with the luxury watchmanufacturer. InMunich last year, he swapped his race suit for a watchmaker’s overall and, as a participant on an exclusive watchmaking course, demonstrated his feel for technology and fine craftsmanship. Working to help create his own personal branded timepiece, he drew up the initial designs for his Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “Nico Rosberg”. The silver-plated dial gives the titanium case (with its crown, crown protection and screw heads made of zirconium oxide) a light, sporty appearance. The yellow colour of the seconds hand recalls the neon yellow helmet that was Nico Rosberg’s trademark for seven years. The watch features a rubber strap, which has an added touch of luxury with its embossed calfskin inlay and grey quilted stitching. The unique partnership between IWCSchaffhausen and two of the world’smost successful elite racing drivers has produced two dynamically different but equally appealing timepieces of remarkable exclusivity. Whether it is the highly robust design and function of the “Lewis Hamilton” chronograph or the light, sporty lines of the “Nico Rosberg” chronograph that you desire, you could not fail to be impressed by both the quality and look of the timepieces and the singular exclusivity of the brand. With its strong links to motorsport, IWC Schaffhausen has provided an opportunity for the most discerning, avid customers to own a piece of living automotive history that will only become more exclusive and desirable over time. Using motorsport materials and even incorporating genuine material fromFormula One cars is an innovative and strikingly bold element of design. The results are genuinely superb.