IWC commemorates the anniversary of their greatest partners in Mercedes-Benz, releasing a watch dedicated to the German brand’s illustrious history.
At the current time of writing, perhaps no watch-and-car partnership is as deeply connected as IWC and German automotive company Mercedes-Benz. Since 2004, both companies have seen their fair share of joint triumphs, challenges and evolutions together. Whether it’s on the wrist, the road or the Formula One racetrack, the two brands have constantly had each other’s backs.
2026 is no different, as it marks a major anniversary for Mercedes-Benz. Celebrating 140 years since its founding, the brand has launched a campaign called “140 Years, 140 Places”, with three new S-Class saloons embarking on a journey to 140 locations across the world.
But while they’ve got the automotive part of the festivities down pat, they’ve turned to IWC to help commemorate their horological partnership. So, IWC has understandably pulled out all the stops with a new limited edition of its latest and greatest timepiece, the Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar ProSet.
A-Class Act
The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar ProSet 140 Years Mercedes-Benz takes the same silhouette as its peers released at Watches & Wonders 2026. Sized to 42mm in case diameter, 52mm lug-to-lug and 14mm in thickness, the new watch is certainly not for the faint of wrist. For those familiar, though, this has almost always been the case for the Big Pilot’s Watch collection. No points for guessing why they chose that name!
In any case, features include the iconic oversized onion crown, as well as a predominantly brushed case with a slim, polished bezel creating a halo of light around the dial. For even a perpetual calendar watch, it’s about as utilitarian as you can get, hearkening back to IWC’s heritage in aviation.
Being one of the more sport-forward references in IWC’s repertoire, the Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar ProSet comes fitted on a black rubber strap with a steel pin buckle. What makes these straps remarkable in their own right is IWC’s EasX-CHANGE system, which allows for the seamless swapping of straps whenever you so choose. Furthermore, the watch is 100m water resistant, meaning that despite its delicate complication, it’s not one to shy away from everyday wear.
Golden Glow
In terms of design, the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar ProSet 140 Years Mercedes-Benz joins its blue-dialled and ceramic peers with a completely new colourway. Classy black and gold are the main two tones found in IWC’s celebration of Mercedes-Benz, with solid-gold applied indexes and numerals surrounding the perpetual calendar subdials, all of which have been layered with a generous amount of lume for a highly effective level of low-light readability.
The thick appliqués add a real sense of dimensionality to the watch, compounded by the slightly inset nature of the vinyl-finished subdials. The alpha hands, similarly finished in gold, are fat and likewise dolloped in lume, with the subdial pointers also following suit.
It’s honestly surprising to me how busy this watch is as you begin to rattle off the details, yet everything that needs to be seen can be, and even a complication as intricate as a perpetual calendar has not compromised the legibility of the watch.
Still, even while acknowledging the exceptionally large indexes and hands, the perpetual calendar’s complications make themselves apparent. The day can be read at 9 o’clock, the date at 3 o’clock, the north/south moon phase indicator at 12 o’clock, the month indicator at 6 o’clock, and the year indicator, surreptitiously stored just above the 7 o’clock marker.
A Perpetual For Pros
Turning the watch around reveals the mastermind behind the madness. But before we get there, the watch pays a singular yet impactful tribute to its automotive partners: the historic 1926 logo following the merger of Daimler Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) with Benz & Cie. Inside the tribute caseback beats the Cal. 82665, one of IWC’s most technologically advanced movements yet. But for as advanced as it is, it’s also quite intuitive.
Let’s start with the familiars first: with a luxury-standard beat rate of 4Hz (28,800VpH) atop a 60-hour power reserve, the Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar ProSet possesses a very respectable surface-level spec sheet.
Of course, appreciation of the movement is compounded massively thanks to the effective Pellaton winding system and the addition of a perpetual calendar complication. But a perpetual calendar complication can be… well, complicated sometimes. That’s where the ProSet name comes in.
Instead of relying on pushers in the case flanks, the ProSet feature of the Cal. 82665 means that the entirety of the calendar can be manually adjusted forwards or backwards with the crown. For as convoluted as a perpetual calendar can be, distilling its vast array of adjustments into a singular device is nothing short of spectacular. While it certainly won’t drive down the price any time soon (sorry!), it ensures that the Cal. 82665 is, in a word, foolproof.
Initial Thoughts
Cars and watches have been inextricably linked ever since both existed concurrently with one another. Cars have always sought to capture the luxury of products like watches, and watches have similarly looked to be involved in the high-performance world of automotives. But only a few partnerships can stand the test of time, and the one between IWC and Mercedes-Benz doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon.
The new Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar ProSet, commemorating the anniversary of their longstanding partner, is proof enough that IWC and Mercedes-Benz remain as thick as thieves within their joint journey.
Not only has IWC made a touching tribute to the origins of its automotive partner, but they’ve done so whilst bringing the finest of their horological technologies to bear. As the Mercedes-Benz motto goes, “Das Beste Oder Nichts” – “The best, or nothing.”
Reference & Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Reference | IW329603 |
| Dimensions | 42mm case diameter x 52mm lug-to-lug x 14mm thickness |
| Case | Stainless steel |
| Dial | Obsidian black lacquer with rose gold accents |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Caseback | Open, sapphire |
| Movement | Automatic Cal. 82665 with ProSet perpetual calendar (day, date, month, year) & moonphase complications |
| Power Reserve | 60h |
| Beat Rate | 4Hz / 28,800VpH |
| Water Resistance | 100m / 10bar |
| Strap/Bracelet | Interchangeable black rubber strap with steel buckle |