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Two great stories of precision and engineering have come together in one exceptionally exclusive watch.
IWC Schaffhausen is celebrating 140 years of Mercedes-Benz with the special Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar ProSet 140 Years Mercedes-Benz, featuring a new and significantly easier-to-set perpetual calendar, a historic Mercedes-Benz emblem and a limited production run of just 140 pieces.
The connection between the worlds of luxury watches and automobiles is nothing unusual, but for the major Mercedes-Benz anniversary, IWC Schaffhausen decided to avoid the expected racing-inspired details and conspicuous automotive motifs.
Instead, the result is a watch that connects the two companies through what perhaps defines them best – mechanical precision, innovation and engineering.
The Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar ProSet 140 Years Mercedes-Benz is limited to just 140 individually numbered pieces, one for each year in the history of the German automotive giant.
A Perpetual Calendar That Is Finally Easy to Set
The most important innovation is hidden inside the case.
The watch uses the new IWC ProSet perpetual calendar, introduced in early 2026. Although complications of this kind rank among the most highly regarded achievements of traditional watchmaking, setting them can often be a rather demanding process.
IWC has attempted to solve precisely that problem.
With the ProSet system, the entire calendar can be adjusted both forward and backward through a single crown position. The date, day of the week, month, year and moon phase remain synchronized with one another throughout the adjustment process.
For the owner, that means considerably easier operation, although behind this apparent simplicity lies extremely complex mechanics.
ProSet uses an entirely mechanical, gear-based architecture protected by multiple patents, while some of its most complex components are manufactured using the LIGA microstructuring process.
The Calibre 82665 Movement
At the heart of the watch is the manufacture IWC Calibre 82665, an automatic movement operating at a frequency of 4 Hz.
The movement offers a 60-hour power reserve, while winding is handled by IWC’s renowned Pellaton system, further enhanced with components made from wear-resistant ceramic.
Four subdials on the dial display the various functions of the perpetual calendar.
Particularly impressive is the IWC Double Moon moon phase display. Its theoretical precision is such that it will deviate by only one day after an astonishing 1,040 years.
A four-digit year display is also positioned between seven and eight o’clock.
In other words, if its future owners encounter calendar accuracy problems sometime in the fourth millennium, they will probably have more important things to worry about.
The Mercedes-Benz Detail Is Where You Least Expect It
IWC has not covered the dial in Mercedes-Benz stars or attempted to turn the watch into an advertisement for the automotive company.
The connection to the carmaker is considerably more discreet.
The 42 mm case is crafted from stainless steel with a combination of polished and brushed surfaces. The black dial features gold appliqués and gold-plated hands, creating a classic contrast perfectly suited to the character of the Big Pilot collection.
The true tribute to Mercedes-Benz only becomes visible when the watch is turned over.
Through the sapphire crystal caseback, the movement can be viewed alongside the original Mercedes-Benz emblem from 1926, created following the historic merger of Daimler and Benz.
The emblem combines the Benz laurel wreath with the Daimler three-pointed star and represents one of the most beautiful details of this anniversary edition.
Just 140 Pieces – Priced at $47,200
The watch comes with a black rubber strap and IWC’s practical EasX-CHANGE system, allowing the strap to be changed quickly and easily.
Water resistance is rated at 100 meters, making it considerably more practical than one might expect from such a complicated mechanical watch.
The price is, unsurprisingly, firmly aimed at collectors: $47,200.
Still, the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar ProSet 140 Years Mercedes-Benz is particularly interesting precisely because it does not attempt to become yet another watch overloaded with automotive logos.
Its connection to Mercedes-Benz is much more subtle. The marque’s 140 years of automotive history are celebrated through mechanics, precision and technological innovation – the very values that have shaped both companies.
And with only 140 pieces being produced, this Big Pilot could very quickly become one of those watches that is much easier to see in photographs than in person.
