Have you heard about IWC’s latest XPL watch? This watch not only has a stunning tourbillon design, but also has the first shock-absorbing protection mechanism, which can withstand an impact of more than 10,000g. It is simply the “steel warrior” of pilots! Want to know how it maintains accuracy in extreme environments? Read on!
IWC XPL watch unveiled at “Watches and Wonders” exhibition
On April 1, 2025, IWC officially launched its large pilot shock-absorbing device Tourbillon Skeleton XPL watch at the “Watches and Miracles” exhibition in Geneva. This watch attracted a lot of attention with its innovative design and unprecedented shock-absorbing effect.
As a top Swiss watch brand, IWC has always been famous for its exquisite mechanical craftsmanship. The XPL watch launched this time confirms the brand’s deep accumulation and continuous exploration in this field.
The perfect combination of shock-absorbing technology and tourbillon
We all know that the original intention of the tourbillon is to reduce the impact of gravity on the oscillation system, thereby improving the accuracy of the watch. However, this structure is often susceptible to damage from external impacts, especially for pilot watches. The gravity changes at high altitudes, coupled with the influence of various unstable factors during flight, make the tourbillon more susceptible to damage.
In order to solve this problem, IWC has innovatively designed the traditional tourbillon and added a shock absorption protection mechanism. The watch is equipped with IWC’s self-made 82915 movement. The movement’s plywood, bridges and oscillating weight have all been hollowed out, which not only improves the viewing quality of the watch, but also effectively reduces the weight of the movement and optimizes its performance.
Let’s take a look at the flying minute tourbillon in this watch. The entire structure weighs only 0.663 grams, which is almost negligible, but it can provide 80 hours of power reserve. Such an ultra-long power reserve can be said to be an unprecedented breakthrough for a mechanical watch.
Moreover, this watch also uses IWC’s patented SPRINg PROTECT® shock-absorbing protection system. This system can be said to be a major breakthrough for IWC in shock-absorbing technology.
In the past, the spring structures of the shock-absorbing devices we saw were linear. However, IWC has redesigned the spring structure and formed a “peak”-like structure through a unique folding form. In this way, when the spring is impacted, it can not only vibrate up and down, but also bend left and right, which greatly enhances the shock absorption effect.
According to experimental data, this newly designed spring structure can withstand an impact force of more than 10,000g. This number is an exaggerated concept. Even when athletes participate in Olympic weightlifting competitions, the barbell they lift is only about 6g. The impact force that this watch can withstand is equivalent to 1,000 such barbells pressing on it.
Brand new BMG material
In addition to the movement, IWC has also made an innovation in materials. We know that the cases of traditional watches are generally made of stainless steel or precious metals, but the case and crown of this XPL watch are made of a new material – Ceratanium® porcelain titanium.
This material combines the advantages of titanium and ceramic. It not only has the lightness of titanium, but also has the wear-resistant and scratch-resistant advantages of ceramic. Moreover, after being improved by IWC, this material not only has a more beautiful appearance, but its physical properties have also been significantly improved.
Ceratanium® material not only effectively resists acid and alkali corrosion, but also has a maximum temperature resistance of 1,600 degrees Celsius. It is almost as strong as stainless steel in the face of flames. Its density is only 3.7 grams/cubic centimeter, which is lower than titanium. It almost does not feel heavy in the hand.
This watch also uses BMG material as the movement shell. BMG material is an amorphous alloy material, which is characterized by extremely high strength and toughness. And because of its amorphous structure, its density is much lower than traditional metal materials. IWC uses this material to effectively solve the problem of performance degradation caused by excessive weight of the movement.
With its excellent performance and exquisite appearance, this IWC XPL watch will definitely become the favorite of many collectors. For consumers who have high requirements for technology and design, this watch is undoubtedly the most suitable choice.
Conclusion
The IWC XPL watch is truly a masterpiece of both technology and beauty, especially its shock-absorbing technology and use of new materials, which gave us many surprises. For those who like watches, this watch is definitely worth a look! Do you think this innovative design can lead the future watch trend? Welcome to share your views in the comment area, and don’t forget to like it!