Lewis Hamilton has been a very busy man in 2023: recently announcing himself as a new ambassador of renowned luggage-maker RIMOWA; (finally) selling his $75 million NYC penthouse to Bill Gates’ daughter; and battling it out on the F1 grid for Mercedes.
Adding to his list of side projects is the special edition IWC Portugieser Tourbillon Rétrograde Chronograph Lewis Hamilton, announced overnight and arriving in an attractive shade of radiant teal.
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The union between Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team and IWC Schaffhausen has only gotten stronger in recent years; with not one, but two different limited edition chronographs, as well as a professional F1 simulator, in which fans tested their skills ahead of the 2023 Melbourne Grand Prix.
This all-new Portugieser Tourbillon also isn’t the first watch that Hamilton has put his name to, with the seven-time world champion assisting in the design of a Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar back in 2021.
His latest efforts are easily his best (and most complex), with the slightly less sporty choice of the Portugieser collection — when compared to either the Pilot’s or the recently relaunched Ingenieur line —suggesting he is approaching the next phase of his life. The case is hewn from a solid chunk of platinum, measuring 43.5mm in diameter and 15.9mm in thickness, making for an unmissable statement on the wrist.
Beneath the sunburst brushed teal-tone dial is a movement worth writing home about, with the 89900 calibre being gold plated (a first in three decades for IWC) and comprising no less than 375 components. It’s regulated by a 60-second tourbillon (visible at 6 o’clock), features a retrograde date display at 9 o’clock and a chronograph totaliser at 12 o’clock that counts both hours and minutes. Even sans platinum case, it’s a heavy hitter.
“It has been an honour and a pleasure to work with Lewis on this project,” explains Christian Knoop, IWC’s Chief Design Officer.
“His passion for IWC and comprehensive knowledge of mechanical watches were palpable at every stage of the two-year development process. Lewis knew exactly what he wanted and brought excellent ideas to the table.”
Just 44 examples of the IWC Portugieser Tourbillon Rétrograde Chronograph Lewis Hamilton will be crafted at the Schaffhausen factory — many of which are no doubt already sold. If you’re keen on adding one to your own collection, you’ll need to move fast and have deep pockets. Surprise surprise.
