IWC Absorb The Shock With Big Pilot XPL

After an 8-year engineering journey, IWC‘s new engineering division, ‘IWC Experimental’, has now succeeded in pushing the limits of what is physically possible in protecting the movement of a mechanical watch against shocks. The Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL.

The Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL (Ref. IW357201) is the first IWC watch to feature the patented SPRIN-g PROTECT system. At the heart of this system is a cantilever spring that protects the movement against the g-forces generated by impacts. It cushions the movement, allowing it to keep moving independently of the case before bringing it to a stop more gently.

The spring has been designed with a perfect form to evenly spread the stress across its length and width. Solving this challenge required advanced simulation tools and a painstaking design process. A key factor is also the choice of an advanced Bulk Metallic Glass (BMG) as a material. An ultra-lightweight titanium casing ring further reduces the mass that the shock absorber must hold. Another innovation is a unique crown system with a winding stem that allows the movement to displace independently of the case. The IWC-manufactured 32115 calibre used for this watch is a custom-made lightweight construction.

IW357201 SPECIFICATIONS

CASE

Ceratanium® case
Diameter 44.0 mm
Height 12.0 mm
Screw in crown
See-through sapphire glass back
Water resistance 10 bar

MOVEMENT

32111 Calibre
IWC-manufactured movement
Automatic, self-winding
120 hours Power Reserve
Frequency 28800.0 vph (4.0 hz)
164 Components
21 Jewels
Côtes de Genève, perlage

FEATURES

SPRIN-g PROTECT system protecting the movement from acceleration forces in excess of 30’000 g
Glass secured against displacement by drop in air pressure
Sapphire glass, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
Central hacking seconds
Annual production limit of 10 pieces