IWC Schaffhausen Announces the Pilot's Watch Venturer Vertical Drive, a Tool Watch for Manned Spaceflights

Schaffhausen/Geneva, Switzerland, April 14, 2026. IWC Schaffhausen introduces the "Pilot's Watch Venturer Vertical Drive" at Watches & Wonders in Geneva. This next-generation tool watch was specially designed and developed entirely from scratch to meet the unique demands of manned spaceflight and timekeeping in outer space. Inspired by astronauts wearing spacesuits and dedicated gloves, this watch allows control of all its functions without a crown, thanks to an innovative, patent-pending rotating bezel system. A rocker switch located on the side of the case enables the wearer to toggle between various functions, such as winding the movement or setting the home time and mission time.

The "Pilot's Watch Venturer Vertical Drive" is crafted using lightweight white zirconium oxide ceramic and Ceratanium®, ensuring high durability and resistance to temperature fluctuations. This tool watch has undergone rigorous testing by Vast, an IWC brand partner and developer of next-generation space stations. It has achieved spaceflight certification from Vast for future flights to Haven-1, which will be the world's first commercial space station.

IWC Schaffhausen boasts a 90-year history of manufacturing tool watches specially designed to meet the needs of the aviation sector. In recent years, the Swiss luxury watch manufacturer IWC has participated in the Inspiration4 and Polaris Dawn manned spaceflight missions, gaining its first experiences in space. However, the watches that traveled to space until now were modified versions of Earth-based aviation watches.

As commercial space exploration enters a new era, IWC Schaffhausen pushes the boundaries with the "Pilot's Watch Venturer Vertical Drive" (Ref. IW328601). This groundbreaking piece is the first IWC watch designed and developed from scratch to meet the harsh environments and strict demands of manned spaceflights.

"When our engineering division, XPL, developed the 'Pilot's Watch Venturer Vertical Drive,' they did not just adapt an existing watch design for space use. Starting from a blank slate, we defined from the ground up what a tool watch for astronauts needs in terms of functionality, operability, time display, and material performance. Every detail of this watch was optimized for the specific needs of manned spaceflight and timekeeping in space. It was important for us to place the finished watch in the hands of experienced space professionals. After undergoing rigorous testing by our partner Vast, the 'Pilot's Watch Venturer Vertical Drive' has become the first IWC watch to receive spaceflight certification," says Christoph Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen.

"The new space age is shaped by innovative and ambitious companies pushing the limits of science and technology. These emerging companies operate much like brands, leveraging the power of design to inspire people and ignite enthusiasm for bold visions. To reflect such philosophy, we chose an advanced, dynamic, and beautifully minimalist design expression for the 'Pilot's Watch Venturer Vertical Drive.' With its rounded edges and monochrome color scheme, it embodies our vision for a modern space watch, carrying IWC's tool watch legacy into the 21st century," says Christian Knoop, Creative Director of IWC Schaffhausen.

Designed to be Operated Without a Crown

The "Pilot's Watch Venturer Vertical Drive" features an innovative, patent-pending rotating bezel system that allows control of the watch's functions without using a crown.

Inspired by astronauts wearing pressurized spacesuits during extravehicular activities (EVA), it is designed so that it can be operated even while wearing gloves. The movement of the bezel is transmitted to the winding stem via an efficient clutch system called the "Vertical Drive." A rocker switch located on the side of the case allows the wearer to wind the movement and toggle between two different...