Review of the IWC Pilot's Watch Venturer Vertical Drive, a watch made for astronauts.

In 2026, IWC unveiled a wristwatch designed for use in space. The "Pilot's Watch Venturer Vertical Drive" is a model designed for astronauts, but it can also be worn on Earth. We had the opportunity to try out this watch just before its world premiere at Watches & Wonders Geneva.

A wristwatch for the International Space Station

　IWC has been manufacturing pilot watches for nearly 90 years, but the Schaffhausen-based company has finally decided that it's time to take the next step. That stage is space. The new Pilot's Watch Venturer Vertical Drive is a timepiece designed from the ground up for use in space, such as inside the International Space Station or during extravehicular activities.

　This is where it differs significantly from other watches previously used in space or tested for space use, such as the famous Omega Speedmaster, and Fortis's past and present space watches. This watch was first made for astronauts in spacesuits, but it can also be worn on Earth. It is certainly not the other way around.

Collaboration with VAST

　In this project leading up to this film, IWC collaborated with the American space company VAST. VAST was founded in 2021 by Jed McCaleb, who made his fortune in cryptocurrency. Based in Long Beach, California, the company specializes in the construction of commercial space stations. The company aims to build its own station to replace the International Space Station, which is scheduled to cease operations in 2030. In 2025, it successfully flew its demonstration satellite Haven Demo, gaining its first experience in orbit. In 2027, the first commercial space station, Haven 1, is scheduled to become operational.

　IWC itself has accumulated experience in the space field in recent years. Several of the company's models accompanied the private spaceflight missions "Inspiration 4" and "Polaris Dawn." European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet also wore an IWC watch during his six-month stay on the International Space Station. However, these were all simply ground-based pilot watches being worn in space. Now, IWC has developed its first watch specifically designed for use in space.

A wristwatch without a crown

　The collaboration with VAST imposed various requirements on this watch. Among them, the most important was the elimination of the winding and time-adjusting crown located at the 3 o'clock position.

　The reason is clear. From the start of the mission until atmospheric exit, astronauts must wear compression suits, including gloves, which severely restrict their range of motion. Under these conditions, it is easier to operate the pusher at the 9 o'clock position with the right thumb than to handle the crown at the 3 o'clock position.

　Therefore, IWC devised a rotating bezel system operated by a black rocker switch located on the left side of the case. The clutch mechanism that transmits the movement of this bezel to winding and setting the hands is called the Vertical Drive.

First impression from the design

　The Pilot's Watch Venturer Vertical Drive certainly gives off a futuristic vibe at first glance. This is due to the absence of a crown, the prominent rocker switch, and the striking monochrome contrast.

　VAST, which collaborated with IWC on this project, has adopted a white-based image strategy, so IWC has used a white ceramic case and integrated it with a white FKM rubber strap. In contrast, the black dial and the black Ceratanium® rotating bezel create maximum contrast.

　Ceratanium® is a material developed exclusively by IWC and used repeatedly in the past. By applying a special treatment to a titanium-based alloy, the surface is transformed into a ceramic-like material, achieving lightness, high hardness, and scratch resistance. It can be said to be a material suitable for space.

　As expected, this watch is incredibly comfortable to wear. It's lightweight, fits comfortably on the wrist, and has no sharp edges. The 44.4mm case diameter and 16.7mm thickness give it a noticeable presence, but it doesn't seem excessively large.

Time and second time zone

　To be honest, the display and functions of this watch are somewhat difficult for "Earthlings" to understand at first glance. The first thing that catches the eye is the 24-hour scale on the outer ring of the dial. This is a scale for the UTC hand, which has a white arrow-shaped tip and completes one rotation of the dial in 24 hours. On the other hand, the regular hour hand completes one rotation in 12 hours.

　In other words, on land, this watch functions as a very typical Traveler GMT, a traveler's watch with a second time zone display. In normal use, the UTC hand can be used as a 24-hour display, so even if the hour hand is pointing to 10 o'clock, you can instantly determine whether it's AM or PM by looking at the time indicated by the UTC hand. When traveling to another time zone, only the hour hand can be independently adjusted in one-hour increments to match the local time. The minute and second hands continue to move during this time, so accuracy is maintained. The 24-hour hand continues to display the home time as before.

　On the other hand, for astronauts on the space station, it is more practical to synchronize the hour hand and the UTC hand. In this case, the UTC hand functions as a 24-hour display or day/night indicator. Since the space station orbits the Earth approximately every 90 minutes, and the crew will see up to 16 sunrises a day, a 24-hour display would be effective in preventing them from losing their sense of time.

Clarity on the dial

　IWC aimed to keep the dial as minimal as possible, taking care not to overwhelm the wearer with too much information. However, this approach has its drawbacks. First, there is no dedicated scale for the regular hour hand. The 12-hour display has neither an index nor even a scale. The only clue is the even numbers from 2 to 24, but these are for the UTC hand, not the hour hand. For better legibility, a clearly defined index of 12, emphasizing its thickness and length, should have been provided to clearly differentiate it from the other markings.

　The second drawback is an illusion caused by the placement of even numbers (2-24) for 24-hour display right next to the 60 minute markings on the outer ring. When there are markings between even numbers, users unconsciously mistakenly think, "This line must represent an odd time, like 19 or 21," and start searching for it. However, the lines drawn on the outer ring are merely 60 lines representing minutes. Because the scales for 24 hours and 60 minutes are different, there are no lines that precisely indicate odd times in the first place.

　However, this confusion quickly fades. Once you understand what each marking represents, the watch itself is quite easy to read. The clearest feature is the seconds scale marked on the inner ring between the dial and the outer ring. It is separated from the dial by a thin blue ring, and its correspondence with the seconds hand, which is painted in the same blue, is clearly indicated.

　However, a third problem remains: the UTC hand is relatively short. IWC probably designed it this way to avoid the misconception that the UTC hand is pointing to a specific scale, especially the seconds scale. The UTC hand only points to the even numbers on the outer ring. However, considering that 24-hour display is important in outer space, this is a slight drawback.

　Otherwise, this display relies on monochrome contrast. On the matte black, low-reflectivity dial, the tips of the diamond-shaped hour and minute hands, coated with white luminous paint, and the arrow-shaped UTC hand stand out clearly. As a result, visibility is high day and night. Furthermore, the date display window at the 3 o'clock position complements the information. The white date numerals are displayed on a black disc using the same font as the 24-hour display, giving them a strong presence.

Rocker switch function

　The Venturer's most distinctive feature lies in its innovative winding and time-setting system. Since there is no crown, its function is handled by a three-position rocker switch at the 9 o'clock position. In the neutral position, manual winding is possible by rotating the bezel counterclockwise. However, as it is equipped with an automatic movement, Cal. 32722, it also winds automatically through the movement of the wearer's arm. This caliber boasts a power reserve of approximately 120 hours.

　Then, pushing the bottom edge of the switch slightly upwards will switch to the next function. In this state, you can adjust the hour hand by rotating the bezel. This allows you to set a second time zone. With a little practice, you'll quickly get the hang of moving the switch to the correct position.

Success is impossible without practice.

　The next step, adjusting the time including the minute hand, is more difficult. This requires pressing the bottom of the rocker switch sideways at a specific angle. Nothing will happen unless you find the exact point of contact. This operation requires several attempts to get the hang of it. It would be even more difficult to do through a spacesuit glove than doing it barehanded on Earth.

　However, this might have been a problem specific to the prototype I tested. Another unit I handled when IWC officially unveiled it at Watches & Wonders Geneva in mid-April was much easier to operate. A small click is heard upon successful operation. The switch locks in place, and the second hand stops. In this state, rotating the bezel causes the other three hands to move in conjunction.

　However, there is one problem. The technical operation sequence already explained, the order in which IWC provides information in its press materials, is not the optimal order for actual users. This is because, if the time setting is not perfectly accurate, you would first want to set the current time and then set the second time zone. In other words, in practice, you would adjust the time including the minute hand first, and then adjust the hour hand individually. It is a minor design inconsistency, but it is not a major obstacle in actual use.

Thorough space environment testing

　VAST is conducting three types of tests on the game at its Long Beach headquarters.

　The vibration test simulated the loads experienced during a rocket launch, reaching a maximum of 9.56G. The decompression test verified the watch's behavior under a rapid decrease in air pressure, confirming that the watch's crystal would not detach. However, at VAST's suggestion, IWC added a protective film to the crystal surface to prevent fragments from scattering inside the cabin in the event of damage.

　Furthermore, material compatibility testing checked for the emission of volatile organic compound gases from the watch, as these could potentially have adverse effects on the crew and the space station's life support systems.

　Ultimately, the project cleared all tests and met Haven 1 environmental standards, leading to official spaceflight certification from VAST.

Conclusion

　Those who choose the IWC Pilot's Watch Venturer Vertical Drive will acquire a wristwatch with an impressive and captivating design. It possesses a strong individuality, having been specifically developed for astronauts. While it may take some getting used to the display and operation, once that is overcome, it is perfectly practical for use on Earth as well.

　However, this space watch is by no means cheap. IWC has priced it at 4,079,900 yen.