SimplyAbuDhabi XXXIII

1 0 0 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I O ne of the world’s leading brands in the luxury watch segment, IWC Schaffhausen are known for contemporary killer watches and classy Haute Horlogerie icons. The Swiss watch manufacturer has been producing timepieces for over 150 years and when it comes to their appearance at SIHH, attendees know to expect something out of the ordinary. The IWC trade booth is always impressive—every year you can expect A- list brand ambassadors to be wandering around the attention-seizing installation, which may be a Formula 1 car or a suspended aircraft—this year it was an original Silver Spitfire plane, which visitors could admire in all its pristine glory at close range. 2019 was the first fair in which IWC opted to design the stand as entirely open plan, with the Spitfire at the centre. The new Spitfire watch also drew many fans for close range viewing, as did the “Le Petit Prince” models, but for us the highlight of the IWC spoils was the Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph TOP GUN Ceratanium® (Ref. IW371815)—the first IWC Pilot’s Watch made from Ceratanium®. This new Ceratanium® material has been specially developed by IWC—it combines the advantages of titanium and ceramic in a groundbreaking new composition. The patented material is as lightweight and unbreakable as titanium and at the same time as hard and scratch-resistant as ceramic. It is also characterised by its excellent skin compatibility, its high degree of corrosion-resistance and its matte black colour. Christoph Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen says, “In the new TOP GUN line, we are using Ceratanium® for a pilot's watch for the first time. This material developed by IWC combines the excellent material properties of titanium and ceramic. This has enabled us to create a completely black design, without a coating, for all watch components such as push-buttons or pin buckles. With the first watch case made from sand-coloured ceramic, which perfectly matches the uniforms worn by pilots in the U.S. Navy, we are also demonstrating IWC's high level of material expertise.” IWC PILOT’S WATCH DOUBLE CHRONOGRAPH TOP GUN CERATANIUM ®