IWC Schaffhausen x George Russell: Two Limited Edition Pilot's Watches in Signature Blue

IWC Schaffhausen has joined forces with Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ driver George Russell to create two striking limited edition Pilot’s Watches. The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 George Russell (Ref. IW389411) and the Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 George Russell (Ref. IW328107) are each limited to just 1,063 pieces, blending IWC’s advanced materials expertise with Russell’s bold personal identity. Both are available through authorised IWC retailers in Australia, including Watches of Switzerland.

A Collaboration Rooted in Racing and Identity

George Russell has been a fixture on the Formula One grid since his debut in 2019. After joining the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team in 2022, the British driver quickly made his mark, claiming pole position at the Hungarian Grand Prix and seven podiums within his first 20 races. With five Grand Prix victories to his name, including the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix, Russell has established himself as one of the sport’s most formidable talents.

Throughout his career, the colour blue has been central to Russell’s personal brand. After initially racing with a black helmet for Mercedes, he returned to the blue-dominant design that has been part of his identity since his early karting days. On the Formula One grid, blue is uniquely and unmistakably associated with Russell. It is a visual expression of what he describes as his duality as a driver: calm under pressure, yet fiercely competitive.

This signature blue is the defining design element of both limited edition IWC Pilot’s Watches. Working directly with IWC Schaffhausen’s creative team, Russell brought his vision to life across a chronograph and an automatic model, each featuring his iconic colour on the dial details and rubber strap. Both case backs are engraved with the number 63, the starting number Russell has carried from childhood karting championships all the way to Formula One.

IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 George Russell (Ref. IW389411)

The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 George Russell is a showcase of the materials expertise IWC Schaffhausen has built over four decades. The 41.9-millimetre case is crafted from black zirconium oxide ceramic, a material IWC pioneered in the 1980s. Ceramic offers a compelling combination of properties for a sports watch. It is lighter than stainless steel and highly resistant to scratches, making it exceptionally durable for everyday wear and active lifestyles.The crown and pushers are made from Ceratanium®, a proprietary IWC material that merges the lightweight character of titanium with the hardness and scratch resistance typically associated with ceramic. This pairing of black ceramic and Ceratanium® gives the chronograph a cohesive, stealthy aesthetic that is punctuated by Russell’s signature blue on the dial indices, numerals, and Super-LumiNova®-filled hands.

Powering the chronograph is the IWC-manufactured 69380 calibre, an automatic movement that operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz) and delivers a 46-hour power reserve. The movement drives a chronograph function for hours, minutes, and seconds, along with a date and day display and small hacking seconds. Functional features include a screw-in crown, a soft-iron inner case for protection against magnetic fields, and a sapphire crystal with a convex profile and antireflective coating on both sides. The glass is also secured against displacement caused by drops in air pressure, a hallmark of IWC’s Pilot’s Watch lineage. Water resistance is rated to 10 bar.

The chronograph sits at a height of 15.5 millimetres and is paired with a blue rubber strap fitted with a Ceratanium® pin buckle and IWC’s EasX-CHANGE® system, which allows the wearer to swap straps quickly and without tools. The titanium case back carries an engraving of Russell’s number 63.

IWC Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 George Russell (Ref. IW328107)

The Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 George Russell offers the same design language and material quality in a slimmer, time-only format. The 41-millimetre case is again crafted from black zirconium oxide ceramic, with the crown finished in Ceratanium®. The black dial features blue indices, numerals, and Super-LumiNova® that match the chronograph model, maintaining visual consistency across the pair.

Inside, the IWC-manufactured 32112 calibre provides a significantly longer power reserve of 120 hours, or five full days, thanks to its double-pawl winding system. The movement runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour and contains 21 jewels. Functions include a date display and central hacking seconds. The watch shares the same protective features as the chronograph: a screw-in crown, soft-iron inner case for magnetic field protection, and pressure-secured sapphire glass with antireflective coating on both sides. Water resistance is rated to 10 bar.

At just 11.4 millimetres in height, the automatic model is noticeably thinner on the wrist than its chronograph sibling, making it a versatile option for those who prefer a more streamlined profile. Like the chronograph, it is fitted with a blue rubber strap, Ceratanium® pin buckle, and the EasX-CHANGE® system, and features the engraved number 63 on the titanium case back.

How the Two Models Compare

Both watches share the same foundational design DNA: black ceramic cases, blue dial accents in Russell’s signature shade, titanium case backs engraved with the number 63, and blue rubber straps with the EasX-CHANGE® quick-swap system. The key differences lie in complication and proportion. The chronograph (Ref. IW389411) is the bolder of the two at 41.9 mm across and 15.5 mm in height, offering stopwatch functionality, a day-date display, and the in-house 69380 calibre with a 46-hour power reserve. The automatic (Ref. IW328107) is the more understated daily wearer at 41 mm and 11.4 mm tall, powered by the 32112 calibre with an impressive 120-hour power reserve. Both are limited to 1,063 pieces worldwide, a number that nods to Russell’s racing number 63.

IWC’s Ceramic and Ceratanium® Heritage

IWC Schaffhausen was among the first Swiss watchmakers to explore advanced ceramic as a case material, beginning in the 1980s. Zirconium oxide ceramic is exceptionally hard, lightweight, and resistant to scratching, and its deep black colour does not fade over time. Ceratanium®, developed and patented by IWC, takes this further by combining the lightness of titanium with ceramic-like surface hardness. Together, these materials represent the cutting edge of IWC’s engineering-led approach to watchmaking, an approach that has defined the brand since it was founded in Schaffhausen in 1868 by American watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones.

IWC and Formula One: A Partnership Since 2013

IWC Schaffhausen has maintained a partnership with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team since 2013. This collaboration extends beyond team sponsorship to direct engagement with the team’s drivers. The George Russell limited editions are the latest expression of this relationship, joining a lineage of driver-associated special editions that connect the worlds of precision engineering, high performance, and personal storytelling.

Available at Watches of Switzerland Australia

As an authorised IWC retailer in Australia, Watches of Switzerland is proud to offer access to these highly collectible limited editions. With only 1,063 pieces of each reference produced worldwide, availability is expected to be extremely limited. Whether you are drawn to the chronograph’s sporting capability or the automatic’s refined simplicity, both models represent an opportunity to own a piece that sits at the intersection of Formula One history and Swiss horological craft.

For enquiries on pricing, availability, and reservations for the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 George Russell (IW389411) or the IWC Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 George Russell (IW328107), contact Watches of Switzerland today.