IWC and Warner Bros. Collaboration for Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar
IWC Schaffhausen has teamed up with Warner Bros. Picture’s new movie, ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,’ to release the Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month, inspired by the glowing red and blue prop watches created by the Swiss luxury watchmaker for the film.
This diver’s watch, inspired by the glowing red and blue prop watches made for the film, comes in two versions, each limited to 25 pieces. It features large 49-millimeter Ceratanium® cases, black dials, and black rubber straps. One version has red Super-LumiNova® on the dial, hands, and inner rotating bezel, while the other has blue. The technical features include a perpetual calendar with digital date and month displays, along with a chronograph function. The IWC-manufactured 89802 caliber, which includes a blackened component, can be seen through the sapphire crystal back.
Aquaman’s High-Tech Watches Featured in the Movie
Moviegoers watching ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ (in theaters internationally December 20 and in North America December 22) will see IWC’s finest engineering on display in the underwater scenes. IWC’s XPL experimental division, known for its innovations in advanced materials and g-protection, provided glowing red or blue prop watches for the villains Black Manta, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Dr. Stephen Shin, played by Randall Park. These prototypes inspired two striking limited editions in IWC’s Aquatimer collection.
Design and Materials of the Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar
The Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month is available in two versions with black dials and hands. The first model (Ref. IW379405) features red Super-LumiNova® on the dial, hands, and inner rotating bezel for dive time, while the second model (Ref. IW379406) features blue. Super-LumiNova® is a high-tech ceramic compound mixed with luminous pigments that acts like a light storage battery, using a process called phosphorescence.
Light energy from sunlight or artificial light causes the material’s electrons to reach a higher energy state, storing this energy. As the electrons return to their normal state, they release the stored energy as visible light, causing the material to glow brightly in the dark or underwater. Both versions feature cases, case back rings, crowns, and pushers made from IWC’s patented Ceratanium®. At 49 millimeters in diameter, these are among the largest watches ever produced by IWC.
Advantages of Ceratanium®
Ceratanium® is a performance material that combines the lightness and structural integrity of titanium with a hardness and scratch resistance similar to ceramic. It is based on a special titanium alloy forged to IWC’s specifications. The case components are machined from bars, hand-finished, and fired at high temperatures in a kiln. During this heat treatment, the surface gains ceramic-like properties and its distinct color.
Perpetual Calendar with Digital Displays
The main feature of these watches is the perpetual calendar with digital date and month displays. The date and month are displayed using rotating discs in a digital format on the dial, making them easy and intuitive to read. The perpetual calendar is mechanically programmed to automatically recognize different month lengths and leap years, displaying “29” and “02” only once every four years.
The IWC-made 89802 caliber drives the calendar with a single nightly switching impulse. The movement also includes a chronograph function that displays stopped hours and minutes combined in a totalizer at 12 o’clock for better readability. The double pawl winding system converts the movements of the oscillating mass in both directions into energy for the mainspring, efficiently building up a 68-hour power reserve. The rotor, designed with a technical look, has been blackened through an elaborate nickel-plating process and can be admired through the transparent sapphire glass case back.
IWC SafeDive System for Diver Safety
The Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month features IWC’s external/internal rotating bezel system for setting dive time. This helps divers track their oxygen levels and prevents them from surfacing too quickly. It combines the enhanced readability of an inner bezel with the ease of use of an external rotating bezel.
The IWC SafeDive system prevents accidental changes in dive time, as the outer bezel can only be moved counterclockwise. Even if the bezel is accidentally moved, the dive time is never extended, ensuring the diver can return to the surface without needing decompression stops. Like all Aquatimer models, it includes the IWC bracelet quick-change system, allowing easy exchange of the black rubber strap.
Precision in Motion with Aquaman
“Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” merges reality with fantasy, requiring every detail to reflect this blend. Black Manta and Dr. Stephen Shin wear the technical, glowing watches, emphasizing the collaboration between IWC and the movie. This partnership highlights the precision and storytelling of both watchmaking and cinematography. The “Behind the Scenes” video can be watched on YouTube.
Availability and Warranty
The Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month is available at selected IWC boutiques. The watch can also be registered under the My IWC care program, benefiting from a 6-year extension to the standard 2-year International Limited Warranty, and comes with the My IWC Passport digital watch certificate.
YOU ASKED…
What inspired the design of the Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month?
The design is inspired by the red and blue glowing prop watches created by IWC for the movie “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.”
How many pieces of each version are available?
Each version is limited to 25 pieces.
What material is used for the watch case?
The case is made from IWC’s patented Ceratanium®, which combines the lightness of titanium with the hardness and scratch resistance of ceramic.
What special feature does the perpetual calendar offer?
The perpetual calendar shows the date and month in a digital format, automatically adjusting for different month lengths and leap years.
Editor’s Note: All listed prices were correct at the time of publication. This article contains editorial selections and paid partnerships. Please note that this article may contain some affiliate links to products and we may receive a commission for selected purchases.
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