Matt Clymo 
IWC has launched a new limited edition Big Pilot Shock Absorber XPL, dedicated to Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team Principal, CEO & Co-owner, Toto Wolff – limited to 100 pieces.
If you are a fan of Formula 1, or Netflix’s Drive to Survive, then you will be very familiar with Toto Wolff – the charismatic and passionate Team Principal, CEO and co-owner of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team. While he keeps his cool on camera and in interviews with a very level head, in the heat of the moment when his drivers are on track, his emotions can sometimes run high and get the better of him. Many a set of headphones have gone the way of the dodo thanks to a bad stewards call or another driver running his team off the track. While headphones are easy to replace, high-end watches are not so easy, so with this, IWC has developed their latest incarnation of the Big Pilot.
The name may be long – the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL Toto Wolff x Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team, but even if this is a mouthful, the watch has some very high-tech and super cool features, perfect to adorn the wrist of Toto himself – which no doubt you will see a lot of when the Formula 1 kicks off on March 14th in Melbourne for round one.
At first glance, the watch doesn’t look much like a Big Pilot, but this is due to the shock-absorbing case that surrounds the piece, masking the iconic Big Pilot silhouette as well as the dial and case design that creates a very futuristic-looking watch. This piece has IWC’s SPRIN-g PROTECT® shock absorber system, which was developed by IWC’s engineering division XPL and first introduced with the Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL (Ref. IW357201) in 2021. And there is some serious engineering at work here.
The new piece features an advanced cantilever spring system that cushions the movement within the case. When the watch experiences an impact, both the case and movement are typically subjected to extreme g-forces. However, this innovative spring absorbs a significant portion of that energy before it reaches the movement, minimizing potential damage. Designed with a specialized shape to evenly distribute stress across its structure, the spring is crafted from bulk metallic glass (BMG)—a high-tech material engineered through a complex process. With significantly greater elasticity than traditional crystalline metals, BMG enhances durability, ensuring the movement remains protected even in the harshest conditions. It is this system and design that gives the Big Pilot Shock Absorber XPL its unique-looking design.
The case and crown are made from Ceratanium, IWC’s proprietary Ceramic-Titanium alloy which makes this piece both lighter and tougher than steel, and the dial showcases a grained texture that is stamped onto the brass using a special tool IWC has developed to generate this effect. The three-dimensional indices at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock stand out on the black-grained dial, as do the hands which are filled with Super-LumiNova.TM
Inside the Big Pilot Shock Absorber XPL x Toto Wolff is the IWC-manufactured 32101 calibre with a double pawl automatic winding system. With the double pawl system, you effectively get a more efficient movement with the energy transfer from the rotor to the mainspring. It also reduces wear and tear on the movement. This gives the watch 120 hours or power and means the watch is good for a whole 5 days without being on the wrist. So for those that may not be part of an F1 team, or need to tone it down a little during the week, you can take it off on Sunday night, then put it back on the wrist again Friday ready for the weekend. The Calibre 32101 beats at 4Hz and pivots on 21 jewels. Toto’s signature is on the sapphire crystal, and the whole movement is blacked out too, which gives this piece a more technical and industrial feel.
While the IWC Big Pilot Shock Absorber XPL x Toto Wolff may look on the larger side and chunky in the images, it measures 44mm across by 12.6mm thick. So it’s not small but it is smaller than a traditional Big Pilot at 46.2mm x 15.6mm thick by a good couple of millimetres. The rubber strap and combination of the black case made from Ceratanium will add to the wearability as well due to the lightness of the piece vs what it would be in steel.
Initial Thoughts
One of the many things I love about IWC is the brand’s love of engineering and pushing the boundaries with regard to its high-performance materials and innovative movement manufacturing, like the Pellaton winding system found in other pieces. While this piece doesn’t have this, the double pawl certainly works, but what sets this piece apart is the shock-absorbing properties of the SPRIN-g PROTECT® shock absorber system combined with materials like IWC’s proprietary Ceratanium and the use of BMG.
This is a performance watch through and through, and perfect for the wrist of Toto Wolff, or anyone who is an F1 fan, or Mercedes fan, or wants a piece that is robust, durable, and with a high-tech look. Being in the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team colours makes it stand out even more, and with a big season ahead for the team thanks to Lewis Hamilton’s departure and the introduction of Kimi Antonelli into the team, this piece is sure to see a lot of screen time on Toto’s wrist!
Reference:
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 44mm Diameter x 12.6mm thick
- Case: Ceratanium case with Ceratnium screw-in crown
- Dial: Black-grained brass dial with applied indices and Super-LumiNova-filled hands and indices
- Crystal: Sapphire, arched edge, antireflective coating on both sides
- Caseback: Ceratanium with sapphire crystal
- Water Resistance: 100 meters
- Movement: IWC 32101 Calibre with double pawl winding system, beating at 28’800 VPH (4 Hz) and pivoting on 21 jewels.
- Power Reserve: 120 hours / 5 days
- Strap: Integrated green rubber strap, plus additional accessory black rubber strap with textile inlay
