Big Pilot’s Watch Shock AbsorberTourbillon Skeleton XPL

The tourbillon is one of the most sophisticated complications in fine watchmaking. As dozens of miniscule parts have to work together in a confined space, it is particularly vulnerable to shocks and damage. With the Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber Tourbillon Skeleton, IWC’s engineering division XPL pushes the boundaries by combining its patented SPRIN-g PROTECT® shock absorber system with a tourbillon movement for the first time. First introduced in 2021, the SPRIN-G PROTECT® system uses a cantilever spring to cushion the movement and suspend it inside the case. In the event of an impact to the case, the movement is protected by the compressing spring system, reducing impact forces significantly. To adapt the shock absorber system to the IWC-manufactured 82915 caliber with a flying minute tourbillon, the shape of the spring had to be redesigned. Each of the eight arms was recalculated using advanced simulation tools and adapted to the dimensions and weight of the tourbillon movement. The re-engineered shock absorber underwent comprehensive testing using advances measurement methods. During these tests, protected tourbillon movements have survived the extreme forces from accelerations in excess of 10,000 g. The key to this extraordinary performance lies in the spring’s perfect form and material execution in bulk metallic glass (BMG). The spring is designed to evenly spread shock forces across its length and width. A highly complex manufacturing process gives BMG a disordered atomic-scale structure. This amorphous microstructure makes the material significantly more elastic than conventional metals – a key requirement for a shock absorber spring. Reducing the mass to be protected is critical for the shock absorber system’s performance. For this reason, the plates, bridges and rotor of the IWC-manufactured 82915 calibre are skeletonized. The dial is reduced to a simple black ring with the characteristic triangle at 12 o’clock and minute scale. Even the triangular hands, coated with Super-LumiNova®, are skeletonized. The flying minute tourbillon, consisting of 56 parts and weighing only 0.663 grams, is completely visible at 6 o’clock. This skeletonization approach allowed IWC’s engineers to reduce the weight of the movement as much as possible, maximizing the performance of the shock absorber system. The automatic movement features a Pellaton winding system reinforced with components made of virtually wear-free ceramic, which efficiently builds up a power reserve of 80 hours in the mainspring. The case and the crown of this watch are manufactured from Ceratanium®, an IWC-developed material that combines the lightness and structural integrity of titanium with a hardness and scratch-resistance similar to ceramic. This highly complex and futuristic Big Pilot’s Watch is fitted with a black rubber strap with a technical pattern, complete with a Ceratanium® pin buckle.