A rare, charity-bound Big Pilot with F1 provenance and extreme shock resistance
IWC Schaffhausen, Laureus Sport for Good, and Bonhams are teaming up for a unique charity auction: one of a limited edition of 100 Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL “Toto Wolff x Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team” is going under the hammer. This very watch was worn—and “shock-tested”—on Toto Wolff’s wrist during the Singapore Grand Prix™ last weekend, adding genuine track-side provenance to one of IWC’s most technically ambitious references. Online bidding opens 15 October and concludes Saturday, 25 October live on stage at the Laureus Charity Night in Zurich. All proceeds benefit the Laureus Foundation Switzerland and its youth sport programmes.
At the heart of the XPL is SPRIN-g PROTECT®, an integrated shock-absorber developed by IWC’s Engineering Division XPL. The movement is suspended on a bulk metallic glass (BMG) cantilever spring, an advanced material notably more elastic than conventional metals. When the watch experiences an impact, the spring distributes force across its length and width before it can reach the delicate movement components—contributing to resilience validated beyond 30,000 g.
This special Toto Wolff edition layers the tech with team-coded details and a lightweight, ultra-tough Ceratanium® case, produced in a strictly limited run of 100 pieces. The auction lot includes a white team polo shirt signed by Toto Wolff. The estimate is CHF 80,000–200,000, with complete proceeds directed to Laureus’ social sport initiatives. Fittingly, the watch was worn as Mercedes driver George Russell took first place in Singapore—an emphatic weekend for the team and a timely showcase for IWC’s shock-proof Big Pilot on the wrist of its Team Principal.
Why this matters to Canadian jewellers
- Story sells: Charity provenance, F1 drama, and breakthrough engineering are conversation drivers that resonate with collectors and new luxury buyers alike.
- Purpose performs: Purchases tied to social good consistently boost engagement. Ground client outreach in Laureus’ youth impact to deepen loyalty.
- Technology as theatre: Demonstrating the BMG spring and discussing “30,000 g” turns a spec sheet into an in-store experience that converts.
Specs at a glance
- Model: IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL “Toto Wolff x Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team”
- Edition: Limited to 100 pieces
- Material: Ceratanium® case; movement suspended on BMG spring
- Shock resistance: Validated beyond 30,000 g
- Auction window: 15–25 October 2025 (online), with the hammer falling live at Laureus Charity Night, Zurich
- Estimate: CHF 80,000–200,000
- Lot bonus: Signed Toto Wolff team polo
How to bid
Register with Bonhams, place advance bids from 15 October, and follow the sale as it closes live during the Laureus Charity Night on 25 October in Zurich.
