IWC and Lewis Hamilton

In the watch industry today, it is common practice for well-known watch manufacturers to work with world-famous brand ambassadors from film and television, the music industry and, above all, sport. Such a particularly intensive collaboration also exists between the Swiss watch brand IWC Schaffhausen and the legendary Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton. A collaboration that recently resulted in a new, strictly limited luxury watch: the Portugieser Tourbillon Rétrograde Chronograph Lewis Hamilton. In this article, we focus on the partnership between IWC and Hamilton and take a close look at the Portugieser timepiece that is currently on everyone's lips.

The partnership between IWC and Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton, who guarded a Mickey Mouse watch as his greatest treasure as a child, is now considered a style icon. The celebrated driver for the Mercedes team feels at home in the world of fashion and has a strong penchant for luxury watches. It therefore seems obvious to team up with a successful watch brand.

How the collaboration began

IWC has now been working with the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team as an "Official Engineering Partner" for a proud ten years. The partnership, which began in 2013, has produced a whole series of IWC special editions over the years, including the fairly recent Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41 Edition "Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team", which was released in 2022. Lewis Hamilton has always been particularly heavily involved in the cooperation. With his involvement, the third "Hamilton x IWC" watch has now seen the light of day.

Common values ​​and goals

The biggest common denominator between Lewis Hamilton and IWC Schaffhausen is certainly their unbridled passion for highly functional, luxurious timepieces. Hamilton, whose Formula 1 career is always down to fractions of a second, and IWC, the manufacturer of extremely precise watches - a dream team with no shortage of new ideas for joint projects.

Both parties place the highest value on the finest quality and are enthusiastic about impressive complications that create functional added value. But Hamilton's commitment goes far beyond his excellent eye for the beautiful and expensive. The successful Formula 1 driver is committed to social justice and is a strong advocate for a community in which people have the same opportunities regardless of their origins.

IWC: A renowned watch brand

The "International Watch Company", or IWC for short, was founded in 1868 and is based in Switzerland, more precisely in Schaffhausen. The brand, which is definitely one of the tried and tested Swiss manufacturers, has built up a fantastic reputation over the decades and is now one of the top places to go for watch fans from all over the world.

IWC as a manufacturer of luxury watches

Of course, IWC's range does not consist exclusively of watches that were created in the context of the cooperation with Mercedes. Interested watch lovers will find a beautiful selection of diverse collections from this renowned manufacturer, from Portofino to Aquatimer to the Grande Complication.

The Importance of Brand Ambassadors in the Watch Industry

Working with brand ambassadors is almost the norm in the watch scene. Even if we stay with racing, there are numerous partnerships with watch manufacturers. Would you like a few examples? No problem: Richard Mille and Ferrari, TAG Heuer and the Red Bull Racing Team, and Girard-Perregaux and Aston Martin. As partners, the watch brands always sponsor the respective team in some way - but what do they get out of it?

The short version of the answer is: attention and image management. If a new IWC watch is worn by a great like Lewis Hamilton, the manufacturer can be almost certain that demand will increase and that both watch lovers and Formula 1 fans will take notice. The stars who naturally represent the watch brand as ambassadors also have a major influence on how the brand is perceived in public. Working with selected celebrities and teams - whether from sports or a completely different industry - has proven to be an effective marketing measure and ultimately benefits both parties.

Lewis Hamilton's influence on watch development

As a die-hard watch lover, Hamilton's contribution to the collaboration with IWC is by no means limited to "just" wearing the watches. On the contrary: he has repeatedly been involved in the development of new special editions. This is especially true for the new Portugieser Tourbillon Rétrograde, whose dial is even adorned with the racing driver's logo.

Hamilton had a great influence on the design of this extremely limited Portuguese jewel, of which only 44 pieces were produced, based on Hamilton's starting number. It is thanks to him that the dial and strap of the watch shine in a bright, truly unusual blue-green color. A nuance that is reminiscent of strong peacock feathers and paradisiacal seas. In combination with the solid platinum case and the discreetly incorporated diamonds that further refine the dial, the color comes into its own and automatically draws all eyes to this very special watch - it couldn't be more glamorous!

In addition to the design, it is above all the technology that makes the "Hamilton x IWC" Portugieser watches such an already acclaimed innovation. Behind the diamonds, the color and the platinum lies the complex IWC caliber 89900, which the proud owner of the watch can examine very closely through the sapphire glass case back. The movement, which is one of the most complicated in-house movements from IWC Schaffhausen, impresses with its reliability, maximum functionality and 68-hour power reserve.

Let's be clear: What can the Portugieser Tourbillon Rétrograde Chronograph Lewis Hamilton do? As the name "chronograph" already suggests, the watch is equipped with a sub-dial that can be used to measure time accurately. There is also a retrograde date display, which with its delicate hand fits effortlessly and harmoniously into the overall appearance of the watch. The one-minute tourbillon with stop-second function crowns the range of functions of the Portugieser Tourbillon Rétrograde and once again shows that no expense or effort was spared in the development of this watch.

The opinion of watch critics and collectors

When the new Portugieser Tourbillon Rétrograde was announced, most watch critics and collectors had one question: How much should the watches with the colorful dial cost?

If you combine the big name IWC Schaffhausen with the numerous functions and high-quality materials of this watch and then add the limited number of only 44 watches, it becomes clear that this cannot possibly be a bargain. The new watch from the collaboration between IWC and Lewis Hamilton is priced at 164,000 euros and can therefore be clearly assigned to the category of absolute high-end timepieces.

Nevertheless, many collectors and connoisseurs of the scene agree: luxury, rarity and quality have their price. Overall, the Portugieser Tourbillon Rétrograde Chronograph Lewis Hamilton is above average in popularity and is already repeatedly described as the best "Hamilton x IWC" watch.

Conclusion: The synergy between IWC and Lewis Hamilton

With its radiant dial, luxurious details and range of complications, the new Portugieser Tourbillon Rétrograde watch reflects what characterizes the partnership between IWC and Hamilton: an unparalleled pursuit of getting the absolute best out of a watch. And this latest special edition is just further proof that, in this case, watch brand and brand ambassador have found in each other someone who fits their own ideas and values ​​perfectly.