The Reveal
- Ref. IW329603 is a 42 mm stainless steel Big Pilot’s Watch limited to 140 pieces, housing IWC’s new Perpetual Calendar ProSet — the first IWC perpetual calendar adjustable both forward and backward through a single crown position, without pushers or menu navigation.
- Edition size of 140 mirrors the anniversary year, with the sapphire case back carrying the original 1926 Mercedes-Benz logo formed by the merger of Daimler Motoren-Gesellschaft and Benz & Cie.
- Calibre 82665 delivers a 60-hour power reserve via a ceramic-reinforced Pellaton winding system, with a silicon hairspring and nickel-phosphorus escapement.
- The Double Moon display deviates by one day every 1,040 years; a four-digit year display occupies the 7–8 o’clock position on the dial.
Design & Mechanics
Ref. IW329603 draws its visual identity from Big Pilot conventions that GCC collectors know well: a 42 mm brushed and polished stainless steel case, a black dial, and gold-plated hands. Solid gold appliqués replace the painted indices, adding weight to the reading experience. The minute track is printed in white, a practical choice given the density of subdial information across the dial.
Four subdials carry the perpetual calendar information. Date sits at 3 o’clock, month at 6 o’clock, day of the week at 9 o’clock, and the Double Moon phase at 12 o’clock. The four-digit year display, positioned between 7 and 8 o’clock, is among the most recognisable details of IWC’s perpetual calendar lineage, traceable to Kurt Klaus’s original 1985 mechanism.
On the case back, the historic Mercedes-Benz logo in sapphire glass commemorates the 1926 union of DMG and Benz & Cie. The laurel wreath from the Benz emblem wraps the three-pointed star of DMG — an emblem that pre-dates the modern Mercedes logo by decades, rendered here with full archival fidelity.
Movement & Materials
The Perpetual Calendar ProSet module is built entirely on gears and protected by four patents. IWC uses the LIGA process — a microstructuring technology combining lithography and electroforming — to produce the highly complex component geometries the mechanism demands. The result is bidirectional calendar correction from one crown position: an engineering outcome that has eluded conventional perpetual calendar architecture for forty years of IWC calendar history.
Calibre 82665 runs at 28,800 vph with 34 jewels. The nickel-phosphorus escapement and silicon hairspring reduce sensitivity to magnetic fields and eliminate the need for lubrication at those contact points. The ceramic-reinforced Pellaton winding system feeds 60 hours of power reserve into the mainspring. The watch ships on a black rubber strap with the EasX-CHANGE system, allowing strap changes without tools.
Chris Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen, frames the occasion directly: “Our collaboration is rooted in shared values: a passion for world-class engineering, uncompromising performance, and visionary design.” The Perpetual Calendar ProSet, first shown at Watches and Wonders in Geneva earlier in 2026, now reaches its most limited and contextually charged expression in this anniversary edition.
Heritage & Lineage
IWC and Mercedes-AMG have operated as formal partners since 2004, with the Swiss manufacturer holding “Official Engineering Partner” status for the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team since 2013. The anniversary edition joins a catalogue that includes the Portugieser Chronograph in Ceratanium and references such as the Big Pilot’s Watch AMG G 63 in Armor Gold (Ref. IW501201) and in ceramic matrix composite (Ref. IW506201), the latter a material developed with the German Aerospace Center.
The IWC Ingenieur Automatic 35 demonstrates IWC’s broader range, but the Big Pilot’s platform has been the consistent vehicle for the Mercedes-Benz collaboration’s most ambitious technical statements. At 140 pieces, Ref. IW329603 is the most constrained edition yet — one piece for each year since Carl Benz filed his automobile patent in 1886.
Specifications
| Reference | IW329603 |
| Movement | IWC-manufactured calibre 82665, automatic (Pellaton), 28,800 vph, 34 jewels, 60 h power reserve |
| Case diameter | 42 mm |
| Case height | 14 mm |
| Case material | Stainless steel (brushed and polished) |
| Dial | Black with solid gold appliqués, gold-plated hands, white-printed minute track |
| Glass | Sapphire, convex, antireflective on both sides |
| Water resistance | 10 bar |
| Strap | Black rubber with EasX-CHANGE system |
| Edition | Limited to 140 pieces |
For more on IWC Schaffhausen and the full Perpetual Calendar ProSet family, consult the manufacturer’s official site directly.
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| Movement | IWC-manufactured calibre 82665, automatic, Pellaton winding system, 28,800 vph / 4 Hz, 34 jewels, silicon hairspring, nickel-phosphorus escapement |
| Case size | 42 mm diameter, 14 mm height |
| Case material | Stainless steel, black dial, solid gold appliqués, gold-plated hands, black rubber strap with EasX-CHANGE system |
| Water resistance | 10 bar |
| Price | Not stated |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the reference number and edition size of the IWC Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar ProSet 140 Years Mercedes-Benz?
The watch carries reference number IW329603 and is limited to exactly 140 pieces, each representing one year of Mercedes-Benz's history since the first automobile patent in 1886.
What makes the IWC Perpetual Calendar ProSet different from a traditional perpetual calendar?
The Perpetual Calendar ProSet allows the calendar to be adjusted both forward and backward via a single crown position, requiring no additional pushers and no changes in crown setting. It is the first IWC perpetual calendar to offer bidirectional calendar correction with the simplicity of setting the time itself.
What movement powers the IWC Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar ProSet 140 Years Mercedes-Benz?
The watch is powered by IWC-manufactured calibre 82665, beating at 28,800 vph with a silicon hairspring and nickel-phosphorus escapement. The bidirectional Pellaton automatic winding system, reinforced with ceramic components, delivers a 60-hour power reserve.
How accurate is the moon phase display on the Perpetual Calendar ProSet?
The Double Moon display, corrected by a newly calculated reduction gear, will deviate by only one day after 1,040 years. It shows the moon phase correctly for observers in both the northern and southern hemispheres.
Is the IWC Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar ProSet 140 Years Mercedes-Benz available in the GCC?
The press release does not specify regional availability by market. As a 140-piece limited edition announced in August 2026, interested collectors in the GCC should contact IWC Schaffhausen directly or consult an authorised IWC retailer.
