Introducing the IWC “Inspiration4” Pilot’s Chronograph

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Somewhere, an Omega marketing director is doing a double take at watch journals with a nervous laughter. Announced yesterday, IWC has reached for the Space Race….. errr… stars (I’ll see myself out) with 4 watches to grace the wrists of the four pilots of the Inspiration4 launch crew. 

Introducing the IWC Pilot’s Chronograph “Inspiration4” (ref. IW389110)

Scheduled for September 15th to 18th, the Inspiration4 is a spacecraft that’s scheduled to launch into low orbit (357 miles above sea level to be exact) with 4 civilian crew members lead by Mission leader Jared Isaacman - an accomplished entrepreneur and pilot himself. 

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The crew will be taxied around the earth in the new and improved Space X Capsule, and the mission itself is designed around raising money for St. Jude Children’s Hospital by spreading the message of Generosity, Leadership, Prosperity, and Hope - something I think we can all appreciate in 2021. Further, IWC plans on auctioning all 4 of the watches on November 6th to raise addition funds for the organization.

THE BASICS:

Brand: IWC Schaffhausen

Model: Pilot’s Chronograph “Inspiration4” (ref. IW389110)

Case Material: White Ceramic

Crystal: Sapphire Crystal

Case Size: 44mm x 15.7mm

Water Resistance: 60 Meters

Movement: calibre IWC 69380

Movement Specs: Automatic Chronograph with Column Wheel and Day-Date, 48H Power Reserve, 33 Jewels, and beats at 28,800 VpH

Strap Options: White Rubber Strap with Leather Inlay

Price & Availability: Limited to 4 pieces - Price Unavailable.

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THE JUICE:

 The IWC Inspiration4 Chronograph is oozing with astronaut design queues. In fact, it may be one of the coolest space themed watches I’ve seen in a while. The ceramic white case has obvious shuttle vibes, and the midnight lacquered blue dial is speckled with applied “stars”. 

In-leu of the traditional seconds subdial indicators at 6 o’ clock, IWC has a shuttle motif. Additionally, the rubber strap with leather inlay has the “Inspriation4” printed on it. 

Flipping the watch over, a titanium caseback features a really cool inscription of the mission, as well as the crew member associated - Generosity, Leadership, Prosperity, and Hope. 

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As a fellow space nerd, this is a really exciting watch. While I recognize I’ll likely never even see one of these in person, I love the idea that other brands are jumping on the space-race train (you expected another space pun, didn’t you?). I was nerding out with a buddy when I saw Jeff Bezos rocking my favorite, certain… ahem, moon chronograph, and the prospect that more brands may get their shot at going to space is, to me anyway, out of this world (there it is).

Read more about the IWC “Inspiration4” Pilot’s Chronograph Here.