The IWC Pilots Automatic “Laureus Sport for Good” Blue Ceramic Watch
Friday - 29 October 2021
If you collect IWC Schaffhausen watches, you’ll be aware that there has been a special timepiece released by the brand each year concerning the Laureus Sport For Good campaign. The watches have always been characterised by their signature deep blue dial colours and special caseback engravings. The launch of this new IWC Laureus Pilot’s Watch Automatic Edition “Sport For Good” is limited to just 750 pieces worldwide. It marks a first for the brand that has, since 2005, faithfully supported the campaign whose founding patron happens to be Nelson Mandela. Its case is crafted from blue ceramic.
The inspirational message behind the foundation’s 250 worldwide programmes, aimed at ending violence, discrimination, racism and disadvantage is clear. It is to “harness the power of sport to promote social change and celebrate sporting excellence”. Nelson Mandela said in 2000; “sport has the power to change the world” and, since then, the Laureus Sport For Good campaign has worked hard to break down barriers and provide better prospects for disadvantaged children across the globe.
IWC and Laureus Sport For Good
The Laureus Sport For Good campaign has reached over 6 million young people and children since it was founded. With its strong message, IWC has supported the programme, designing and releasing versions of its popular Portofino, Pilot’s Watch, and Portuguese timepieces. These include the likes of the Portofino Automatic Moon Phase watch and the Portugieser Monopusher Chronograph to name just a couple of examples. In that same vein, IWC Schaffhausen has also produced its own book, documenting ten projects in particular that it has helped support the campaign to complete. The book is named “Let the Children Play”. Each year the prestigious watchmaker also organises a drawing competition that encourages children and teenagers to produce a design in line with one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Once drawings are submitted, a winner is picked by a jury of representatives and makes its way onto the back of a specially engraved IWC watch case. The organisation in question not only receives a donation but the child also receives a prize and gets his or her work recognised as an influential piece of art.
The new blue case
For the new IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Automatic Edition “Laureus Sport For Good”, which goes by the ref: IW328101, the company chooses a blue ceramic case. To achieve this highly resistant material, metallic oxides are mixed with powdered zirconium oxide to create the case’s stunning dark blue hue. The watch case measures a comfortable 42mm diameter and is topped with a domed anti-reflective and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass front to protect the dial from all manner of damage caused by general wear and tear. Twelve-year-old Melissa Mejia Castilla has created a special image in support of “Living in Peace” which has been meticulously engraved into the back of this special edition IWC Schaffhausen watch. The “Vivir en Armonía” image holds a significant meaning behind it and features on the back of the screwed-down titanium case. The watch is also 100-meter water-resistant and features an oversized crown in true spirit of the IWC Pilot’s Watch style.
Inside the new 41mm blue ceramic and titanium case of the Pilots Watch Automatic Edition “Laureus Sport for Good” watch is the Calibre 32111, based on a ValFleurier-based movement. With hacking seconds, central hours, central minutes and a date aperture, the movement offers an impressive 120-hour power reserve and performs at a rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour.
The new IWC Pilot’s Watch Edition “Laureus Sport For Good” watch ref: IW328101 features a stunning blue dial that melts seamlessly into the surrounding blue-coloured case. The dial is arranged in the familiar style, with Super-LumiNova-coated Arabic numeral hour markers, matching luminous coated hour and minute hands, and a red-tipped central second hand. The triangular hour marker at twelve, accompanied by two dots, is a recognisable feature of the IWC Pilot’s Watch collection, whereas the white date window at 3 o’clock makes for easy tracking of the passing days throughout each month.
Of course, the watch also features an anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass front and features a soft-iron inner case for optimum resistance against the damaging effects of magnetism. The IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Automatic Edition “Laureus Sport For Good” Blue Ceramic watch is limited to 750 pieces worldwide and comes complete on a blue rubber strap with a blue textile inlay and tone-on-tone blue stitching. It secures with a brushed titanium buckle engraved with the IWC signature.
To order one of the 750 individual pieces available, you can contact our Jura Watches sales team on 01335 453453 or visit our website here.
Technical specifications of the IWC Schaffhausen Pilots Watch Automatic Edition “Laureus Sport for Good” Blue Ceramic
- Case: 41mm – blue ceramic – brushed titanium caseback with 6 screws – sapphire crystal glass front with AR coating – specially engraved caseback featuring Vivir en Armonía” artwork by 12-year-old Melissa Mejia Castilla, 100-meter water-resistant
- Dial: Signature Laureus “Sport For Good” blue colour – Super-LumiNova-coated Arabic numerals – luminous central hour and minute hands – red-tipped central second hand – white date aperture at 3 o’clock
- Movement: Calibre 32111 – based on ValFleurier movement – 120-hour power reserve – 28,800 v.p.h – 21 jewels – central hours, minutes, hacking seconds and date functions
- Strap: Blue rubber – blue textile inlay – blue stitching – titanium brushed pin buckle – engraved with the IWC lettering
- Price: £5,950
- Availability: Limited to 750 pieces worldwide
- Reference: IW328101
