Pilot's Venturer Vertical Drive: IWC's First Watch Built and Certified for Human Spaceflight
IWC Schaffhausen has presented the Pilot's Venturer Vertical Drive (Ref. IW328601), which the brand describes as its first watch designed and engineered from the ground up for human spaceflight. Until now, IWC watches that flew to space were modified aviation watches. The new model was unveiled at Watches and Wonders Geneva in April 2026.
Developed with Vast
The watch was created together with Vast, a company based in Long Beach, California, that develops space stations. Its Haven-1 is planned as the world's first commercial space station, with launch expected in 2027.
Vast engineers tested the watch at the company's headquarters for resistance to vibration and pressure changes, and checked that its materials are compatible with the Haven-1 environment. In vibration tests the watch was exposed to rapid changes of direction with forces of up to 10g, more than typical launch loads. After each test it had to remain intact and fully functional. Vast then issued an official spaceflight certification, and the watch is qualified to fly on Haven-1.
No crown: everything through the bezel
The most unusual feature is the absence of a crown. Inspired by the way astronauts work in thick gloves during spacewalks, IWC moved all functions to a patent-pending rotating bezel. A rocker switch on the side of the case selects what the bezel controls: winding, or setting the mission time or home time.
"Vertical Drive" is the name of the clutch system that transfers the bezel's movement to the winding stem. The watch can be wound by its automatic rotor or by turning the bezel anticlockwise, so it works both on Earth and in microgravity.
Mission time and home time
The central hour and minute hands show the reference time (GMT/UTC), which helps crews keep a 24-hour routine in orbit, while a 24-hour hand runs around the outer scale. The hour hand can be moved in one-hour steps to show home time in space, or local time after landing. The matte black dial is designed to avoid reflections. The hour and minute hands have green Super-LumiNova® edges, the tip of the 24-hour hand glows blue, and the blue seconds hand and inner ring are a nod to the colour of Earth's horizon seen from orbit.
Ceramic, Ceratanium and a 120-hour movement
The case is white zirconium oxide ceramic; the rotating bezel and case back are made of Ceratanium®, IWC's material that combines the lightness of titanium with hardness and scratch resistance close to ceramic. The case back carries an engraving that evokes a space vehicle. Inside is the IWC-manufactured calibre 32722, an automatic movement with an integrated GMT module, a date at 3 o'clock and a 120-hour power reserve. The white integrated strap is made of FKM rubber, chosen for thermal insulation and UV resistance.
Specifications at a glance
- Reference: IW328601
- Case: white zirconium oxide ceramic; Ceratanium® rotating bezel and case back; no crown
- Movement: IWC calibre 32722, automatic, 120-hour power reserve, integrated GMT module
- Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, 24-hour display, second time zone, date
- Strap: white integrated FKM rubber
- Certification: spaceflight-certified by Vast for Haven-1
IWC's announcement did not include a price, case size or production numbers. More IWC pilot's watches: IWC Pilot's Watches catalogue.
Source: IWC Schaffhausen press release, 14 April 2026. More about the brand: IWC Schaffhausen.
