Those who appreciate pilot's watches know that IWC has been deeply involved in aviation tool watches for 90 years, and has previously produced models that have been sent to space, but most of them were modifications of existing models. However, the Explorer Vertical Drive, which debuted at the 2026 Geneva Watch Fair, is the brand's first professional tool watch developed from scratch specifically for manned spaceflight, earning official Vast spaceflight certification. It combines crownless technology, aerospace-grade materials, and a dual time zone long power reserve, showcasing the brand's core strengths in space watchmaking. Today, we'll take a closer look at this unique space pilot's watch.Best luxury replica watches price at Repwatcheaprice, cheap watches for men and women.
First, let's look at the case materials. The case is made of white zirconium oxide ceramic, perfectly designed for vacuum, extreme temperature differences, and strong vibration environments. This material is second only to diamond in hardness, is scratch-resistant and corrosion-resistant, and can withstand the extreme temperature differences of space—from -150℃ to 100℃—without thermal expansion or contraction. It feels cool and smooth to the touch and won't leave scratches even after long-term wear. Combined with its large 44.3mm diameter and 16.7mm thickness, it exudes a powerful presence as a tool watch. Next, let's examine the watch's minimalist aerospace-grade matte dial. The dial abandons superfluous decorations, focusing entirely on clear time reading, as seen in space. The matte black dial eliminates glare from strong spacetime light. The four hands are clearly defined, with meticulous attention to detail in luminescence: the triangular hour and minute hands are filled with green Super-LumiNova luminescence, the outer arrow 24-hour hand uses blue luminescence, displaying UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). The central thin blue seconds hand has a stop-seconds function. A square date window at 3 o'clock completes the clean and uncluttered layout.
Many watch enthusiasts may wonder why this timepiece comes standard with a 24-hour display. This is because spacecraft orbit the Earth every 90 minutes, and there are more than ten day-night cycles a day. Astronauts need to rely on a 24-hour time zone to maintain their daily routine. For everyday wear, whether traveling or on business trips, a single watch allows you to keep track of two different times, making it an essential tool for frequent travelers. The watch uses a patented vertical drive system, completely eliminating the traditional crown. This is the most revolutionary and core highlight of the entire watch, and a patented structure specifically designed for operation while wearing heavy space gloves. All operations are completed via a side rocker switch and rotating the bezel, with three modes that can be switched with a single button: W (Winding): Manually winds the watch by rotating the bezel counter-clockwise; in the weightless environment of space, automatic winding is insufficient, allowing for manual recharging; H (Local Time): Adjusts the hours and minutes by rotating the bezel, with a stop-seconds function for accurate adjustment; M (Second Time Zone): Quickly adjusts the hour hand while keeping the minute hand stationary, allowing for one-button switching to your home time.
