IWC presents 4 exclusive Pilot’s Watch Chronographs in support of the upcoming human spaceflight mission “Polaris Dawn”.
In bright white ceramic and dark blue lacquered dials printed with countless stars and the mission logo, the IWC Pilot’s Chronograph “Polaris Dawn” calls to mind the cause it was designed to support – the SpaceX mission to advance our understanding of both human health on Earth and how it’s impacted during future long-duration spaceflights. Set to launch by the end of this year, the mission will witness the Polaris Dawn crew’s endeavour to travel to 1,400 kilometres – the highest Earth orbit ever flown – and attempt the first-ever commercial spacewalk over the course of five days.
The first of three human spaceflights planned as part of the Polaris Program, the Polaris Dawn mission will launch from the historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Upon its return to Earth, the four IWC chronographs specially designed for this cause will be auctioned to raise funds and awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a leading children’s hospital treating the most challenging childhood cancers and paediatric diseases.
The Polaris Program is an exciting next step in space missions to advance human space exploration while helping to solve problems through the use of innovative technology here on Earth
Jared Isaacman “Polaris Dawn” mission commander
In this same innovative and exploratory spirit, the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “Polaris Dawn” was created. A striking presence, the bright white colour of its 45mm ceramic case results from a complex manufacturing process in which zirconium oxide is mixed with other metallic oxides at a precisely defined ratio and then sintered at high temperatures in a kiln. This brilliant shade brings out a remarkable contrast against the space-blue lacquered dials printed with countless stars and the mission logo. To further mark the mission, each titanium case back is engraved with the name of one of the four crew members – Jared Isaacman, the U.S entrepreneur and mission commander of last year’s Inspiration4 mission who will serve as commander, along with the crew comprising retired United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Scott “Kidd” Poteet, and SpaceX Lead Space Operations Engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon.
Since it was founded in 1868 by the American watchmaker and engineer Florentine Ariosto Jones, IWC is devoted to a unique engineering approach to watchmaking, combining the best of human craftsmanship and creativity with cutting-edge technology and processes. The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “Polaris Dawn” is no exception. At its heart beats the IWC-manufactured calibre 69380, running on a power reserve of 46 hours. The soft-iron inner case protects against magnetic fields, with glass secured against displacement by drops in air pressure and a screw-in crown. No detail is left to chance.
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Images courtesy of IWC Schaffhausen, artwork by Curatedition. All rights reserved.
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