Lewis Hamilton seems to have an affinity for stylish and domineering timepieces. Fortunately for him, he partners with one of the best in the space at busy and maturely opulent timepieces. The seven-time F1 champion has been the IWC Schaffhausen’s ambassador for a decade now (as is his racing team Merdedes-AMG) and has been able to preview (for us) many of the watchmaker’s hottest timepieces, such as the Lake Tahoe variant of the Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar from earlier this year. Now, the driver gets to collaborate with the German brand for yet another flashy model.
For Hamilton’s third outing in tandem with IWC, the pairing has debuted a limited-edition teal version of the Portugieser Tourbillon Retrograde Chronograph. This is the first time the racer has had his name on the complex luxury chronograph model — the first two collabs were on an Ingenieur Chronograph and Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar. Aside from the dial, the teal color on the new watch is also given to the sporty textile strap.
While the 43.5mm Portugieser Tourbillon Retrograde Chronograph has already existed in IWC’s lineup, this special edition gives the timepiece some updates, such as a brushed and polished 950 platinum case. Not to mention, the hour markers are each given a small diamond, and the dial sports Hamilton’s logo. For those familiar with the complex watch, you’re aware of its unique functions thanks to the in-house caliber 89900 movement, such as the one-minute flying tourbillon with stop-seconds, the retrograde date gauge, and flyback chronograph subdial for elapsed hours and minutes. Even without the connection to the driver, this would still be an exceptional watch in a unique colorway.
If you’re hoping to get your hands on this spectacular timepiece, act fast. Limited to just 44 pieces, the Portugieser Tourbillon Retrograde Chronograph is priced at $169,000 from IWC.
