IWC Schaffhausen – Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive Ceramic / Ceratanium® 44mm Automatic 2026
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 
IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN’S FIRST TOOL WATCH ENGINEERED AND
CERTIFIED FOR HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VAST
IWC Schaffhausen unveils the Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive at Watches and Wonders in Geneva. This next-generation tool watch has been specifically designed and engineered from the ground up for the unique demands of human spaceflight and timekeeping in space.
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 
Inspired by astronauts wearing space suits with gloves, all functions of the watch can be controlled through an innovative, patent-pending rotating bezel system, eliminating the need for a crown.
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO
A rocker switch located on the side of the case enables the wearer to change between various functions, including winding the movement and setting the home or mission times. The Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive is crafted using lightweight white zirconium oxide ceramic and Ceratanium®, ensuring high durability and resistance to temperature fluctuations.
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 
This tool watch underwent rigorous testing by IWC’s brand partner, Vast, the company developing next-generation space stations. It received spaceflight qualification from Vast for flight on Haven-1, scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station.
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 
IWC Schaffhausen boasts 90 years of experience in crafting tool watches that are purpose-designed to meet the requirements of aviation. In recent years, the Swiss luxury watch manufacturer has gained first experiences in space through participating in the Inspiration4 and Polaris Dawn human spaceflight missions. However, every watch that has travelled to space to date has essentially been a modified terrestrial aviation watch.
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 
As commercial space exploration enters a new era, IWC Schaffhausen is now pushing the limits with the Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive (Ref. IW328601). This milestone marks the first IWC watch that has been designed and engineered from the ground up for the unique and challenging demands of human spaceflight.
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 
“When our engineering division XPL developed the Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive, they did not simply adapt an existing watch design for use in space. They took a blank sheet of paper and worked to define from scratch what a tool watch for astronauts would have to offer in terms of functionality, ease of operation, time display and material execution. Every single detail of this watch has been single-mindedly optimised for the unique requirements of human spaceflight and timekeeping in space. It was crucial for us to put the final watch into the experienced hands of real space professionals. After undergoing rigorous testing by our partner, Vast, the Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive is the first IWC watch that has received certification for spaceflight,” explains Chris Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen.
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 
“The new space age is shaped by innovative and ambitious companies that push the boundaries of science and technology. These emerging players operate much like brands, deliberately harnessing the power of design to inspire people and spark enthusiasm for their bold visions. To reflect this, we have chosen a forward-looking, dynamic and beautifully minimalist design expression for the Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive. With its rounded edges and black and white colour scheme, it embodies our vision of a modern space watch and carries IWC’s tool watch legacy into the 21st century,” adds Christian Knoop, Creative Director at IWC Schaffhausen.
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 
Designed for operation without a crown
The Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive boasts a matte black dial that is reduced to the absolute essentials and avoids light reflections. With highly legible markings, it displays two different times. The mission’s reference time is indicated by the central hour and minute hand, and also in 24-hour format by a dedicated hand on the outer dial scale, which runs from 00:00 to 24:00.
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 
To manage this rapid sequence of day and night, they adhere to GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) or UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). These formats retain the familiar 24-hour rhythm of Earth time, enabling the crew to keep a consistent routine with work and sleep times while in space.
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 
The central hour and minute hands are normally synchronised with this reference time. If required, however, the hour hand can be moved in one-hour increments to display a second time zone. An astronaut in space can use this function, for example, to show the home time in any location on Earth. After returning to Earth, the second time zone feature transforms the watch into the quintessential companion for frequent flyers: with a simple turn of the bezel, it can be set to display the time at the destination of travel.
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 
The edges of the black triangular hour and minute hands are coated with green Super-LumiNova®, while the arrow-shaped tip of the 24-hour hand glows blue in the dark. The blue second hand points to the inner scale, which features a thin ring in the same shade of blue. The colour is a nod to the horizon of the Earth as seen by astronauts from space.
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 
This dual-time display is made possible by the newly engineered IWC-manufactured 32722 calibre, an efficient automatic movement with a 120-hour power reserve that includes an integrated GMT module. There is also a date indication at 3 o’clock.
Extreme robustness and performance
When ascending to space on a rocket, the engines generate powerful vibrations and astronauts experience acceleration forces of up to 4g, which is equivalent to four times the force of gravity on Earth. In space, hardware is exposed to vacuum, radiation and extreme fluctuations in temperature. Temperatures can exceed 100 °C in direct sunlight and plummet to -150 °C in the shade.
To ensure high robustness and reliable operation during all phases of a mission, the Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive is crafted entirely from advanced performance materials. Its case is made of white zirconium oxide ceramic.
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 
With a Vickers hardness rating second only to diamond, ceramic ranks among the hardest substances on Earth. The rotating bezel and case back are crafted from Ceratanium®. Developed by IWC, Ceratanium® combines the lightness and structural integrity of titanium with a hardness and scratch resistance similar to that of ceramic.
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 
The combination of these two materials makes the watch not only highly robust and resilient but also immune to temperature fluctuations and corrosion. The case back features an engraving that symbolically evokes a space vehicle, reflecting humanity’s curiosity and spirit of exploration.
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 
The Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive is fitted with a white integrated FKM rubber strap. FKM (fluorinated rubber) offers excellent thermal insulation and is resistant to UV radiation, ensuring extreme durability.
Tested and certified for spaceflight by Vast
The Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive has undergone extensive type testing by IWC’s brand partner, Vast. Vast is building Haven-1, scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station. Haven-1 will inform Haven-2, a multi-module, continuously crewed station that is the proposed successor to the International Space Station (ISS).
Haven stations are state-of-theart, human-centric innovation labs for both private astronauts and government missions. For Haven-1’s inaugural mission, four crew members will embark on a short duration journey which will include opportunities to conduct advanced science, research and in-space manufacturing. Haven-1 will not support EVAs however its missions will lay the groundwork for future capabilities.
“IWC’s dedication to engineering excellence, delivering uncompromising accuracy, reliability, and astronaut-focused design, aligns perfectly with Vast’s human-centric approach to developing Haven-1. We’re thrilled to see this tool watch go from design and testing to launch,” added Max Haot, Vast CEO.
At their headquarters in Long Beach, California, engineers at Vast conducted thorough evaluations of the watch, assessing its resistance to vibrations and pressure changes, as well as the compatibility of its materials with the Haven-1 environment.
The vibration tests, for example, exceeded the typical forces that astronauts experience during ascent. The watch was secured to a platform that generated rapid directional changes, exposing it to forces of up to 10g. After each test, the engineers verified that the watch remained intact and fully functional.
The Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive has successfully met all the testing criteria required for Haven-1 spaceflight environments and crew usage, earning an official certification for spaceflight from Vast.
Vast is developing next-generation space stations to ensure continuous human presence in space, enabling advanced microgravity research and manufacturing, and unlocking a new space economy for government, corporate, and private customers. Using an incremental, hardware-rich and low-cost approach, Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station. Haven Demo’s 2025 success made Vast the only operational commercial space station company to fly and operate its own spacecraft. Next, Haven-1 is expected to become the world’s first commercial space station when it launches in 2027, followed by additional Haven modules to enable permanent human presence by 2030.
-------------------------------------------
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Model: Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 
Reference: IW328601
Case
Material: Ceramic
Diameter 44.3 mm
Height 16.7 mm
Glass: Sapphire, domed, antireflective coating on both sides
Ceratanium® bezel
Rotating bezel system for controlling watch functions without a crown
Ceratanium® case back
Water-resistant to 100 meters
Dial
Black dial, black hands
Central hacking seconds
Date display
Display of a second localtime
Movement
IWC-manufactured calibre 32722
Automatic movement
Frequency: 4 Hz, 28'800 vph
Number of jewels: 21
Power reserve of 120 hours
Functions
Date display
Rotating bezel system for controlling watch functions without a crown
Central hacking seconds
Display of mission time
Strap
White rubber strap 20 mm with Ceratanium® pin buckle 18 mm
-----------------------
Further Information
IWC Schaffhausen Baumgartenstrasse 15· CH-8201Schaffhausen
Phone +41 (0)52 235 75 65 · Fax +41 (0)52 235 75 01 · press@iwc.com ·
------------------------------
Press releases - 2026
------------------------------
IWC Schaffhausen
Baumgartenstrasse 15 ·
CH-8201 Schaffhausen
Phone +41 (0)52 235 75 65 ·
Fax +41 (0)52 235 75 01 ·
Mobile +41 (0)79 957 72 52
E-mail info@iwc.com
----------------------------------------------
www.facebook.com - IWC Watches
-------------------------------------------------
www.iwc.com
