IWC and Lewis Hamilton

In the watch industry today, it's common practice for renowned watch manufacturers to collaborate with world-famous brand ambassadors from film and television, the music industry, and especially sports. Such a particularly intensive collaboration also exists between the Swiss watch brand IWC Schaffhausen and legendary Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton. This collaboration recently resulted in a new, strictly limited-edition 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's currently on everyone's lips.

The partnership between IWC and Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton, who treasured a Mickey Mouse watch 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 distinct penchant for luxury watches. Therefore, it seems a natural fit 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 the "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 quite recent Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41 Edition "Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team," released in 2022. Lewis Hamilton has always been particularly heavily involved in the collaboration. With his involvement, the third "Hamilton x IWC" watch has now seen the light of day.

Common values ​​and goals

The greatest common denominator between Lewis Hamilton and IWC Schaffhausen is certainly their unbridled passion for highly functional, luxurious timepieces. Hamilton, whose Formula 1 career has repeatedly come 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 passionate about impressive complications that create functional added value. But Hamilton's commitment extends far beyond his excellent eye for the beautiful and expensive. The successful Formula 1 driver is committed to social justice and advocates for a community in which people have equal opportunities regardless of their background.

IWC: A renowned watch brand

The International Watch Company, or IWC for short, was founded in 1868 and is headquartered in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. The brand, which is definitely one of the most time-honored Swiss manufacturers, has built a tremendous reputation over the decades and is now one of the top destinations for watch enthusiasts from all over the world.

IWC as a manufacturer of luxury watches

Of course, IWC's product range isn't exclusively comprised of watches created in the context of the collaboration with Mercedes. Watch enthusiasts will find a fine selection of diverse collections from this renowned manufacturer, from the Portofino to the Aquatimer to the Grande Complication.

The importance of brand ambassadors in the watch industry

Collaboration with brand ambassadors is almost de rigueur in the watch world. Even if we stay with motor 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, as well as 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 building. When a new IWC watch is worn by a star like Lewis Hamilton, the manufacturer can be virtually 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 significantly influence how the brand is perceived by the public. Collaborations with select celebrities and teams—whether from sports or a completely different industry—have proven to be an effective marketing measure and ultimately benefit both parties.

Lewis Hamilton's influence on watch development

As a dedicated watch enthusiast, Hamilton's contribution to the IWC collaboration is by no means limited to "just" wearing the watches. Quite the opposite: He has repeatedly been involved in the development of new special editions. This is especially true for the new Portugieser Tourbillon Rétrograde, whose dial even features the racing driver's logo.

Hamilton exerted a significant influence on the design of this extremely limited-edition Portugieser, of which only 44 pieces were produced, based on Hamilton's racing number. It's thanks to him that the watch's dial and strap shine in a vibrant, truly extraordinary shade of blue-green. A nuance reminiscent of bold peacock feathers and paradisiacal seas. Combined with the solid platinum case and the subtly set diamonds that further enhance the dial, the color is perfectly showcased and automatically draws all eyes to this very special watch – it couldn't be more glamourous!

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 inspect up close through the sapphire crystal case back. The movement, one of the most complicated in-house movements from IWC Schaffhausen, impresses with its reliability, superior functionality, and 68-hour power reserve.

Let's be clear: What can the Portugieser Tourbillon Rétrograde Chronograph Lewis Hamilton do? As the name "chronograph" suggests, the watch is equipped with a subdial that allows for precise time measurements. There's also a retrograde date display, which, with its delicate hand, blends effortlessly and harmoniously into the overall appearance of the watch. The one-minute tourbillon with stop-seconds function crowns the Portugieser Tourbillon Rétrograde's range of functions and further demonstrates that no expense or effort was spared in the development of this watch.

The opinion of watch critics and collectors

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

When you combine the prestigious name IWC Schaffhausen with the numerous functions and high-quality materials of this watch, and then add the limited edition of just 44 pieces, it becomes clear that this can't possibly be a bargain. The new watch from the collaboration between IWC and Lewis Hamilton is priced at 164,000 euros, clearly placing it in the category of absolute high-end timepieces.

Nevertheless, many collectors and connoisseurs in the scene agree: luxury, rarity, and quality come at a price. Overall, the Portugieser Tourbillon Rétrograde Chronograph Lewis Hamilton has been exceptionally well-received and is already repeatedly hailed 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 defines the IWC and Hamilton partnership: an unparalleled pursuit of the absolute best in a watch. This latest special edition is simply further proof that, in this case, the watch brand and its ambassadors have found in each other someone who perfectly aligns with their respective visions and values.