There’s been a lot of news related to superhero films today, not all of it good. After an extended will they, won’t they fire him, Marvel has finally dropped Jonathen Majors after his trial. For once it’s the DC Extended Universe coming in with the positive news as the launch of the new Aquaman film approaches, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. In celebration of the launch, IWC have released a new timepiece in collaboration with the film, the Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month.
Prototypes for the watch can be seen in the film on the wrists of the villains Black Manta and Dr Stephen Shin (No, not Dr Stephen Strange, he wears a JLC). It’s interesting to see a watchmaker team up with the villains of a film considering we’re used to seeing collaborations like Omega and James Bond. But the dark designs with glowing red or blue accents suit the aesthetics of the super villains particularly well.
The IWC x Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month that is available to buy is a little different, featuring a greater range of complications and utility as opposed to the film watches’ focus on aesthetics – similar to Hamilton’s timers from Tenet and the real-world limited editions. Although just like the film, there are versions of the watch with red or blue accent colours. Honestly, there is a lot going on with this watch so let’s get into the specifics starting with the case.
In terms of size, the watch is pretty large. It measures 49mm in diameter and is made from Ceratanium, IWC’s propriety material that combines structural properties of titanium and the scratch resistance of ceramic. Ironically for a watch dedicated to a sub-aquatic world with a dive watch style, it only has 100m water resistance.
Aesthetically, it’s very bold and technical with wide pushers and an internal rotating bezel featuring a dive timer. Interestingly it’s a case where the internal bezel is entirely stylistic because it’s operated via the normal means of the uni-directional external bezel as opposed to a secondary crown.
You’ll likely have noticed in the name of the watch the phrase “Digital Date-Month”, it’s worth clearing up that this watch is not actually digital or electronic in anyway. The term Digital Date-Month is simply referring to the fact that the date and month functions are both given in numeric form on discs that rotate through static windows. As opposed to a hand rotating to point at the relevant markers in analogue fashion.
As a perpetual calendar, the date and month indicators won’t need correcting for close to 100 years while accounting for leap years and the quirks of Gregorian calendar – for which there is also an indicator positioned on the small seconds subdial at 6 o’clock. But wait, a perpetual calendar doesn’t typically require a small seconds subdial so what’s going on? Well, completely omitted from the watch’s name is the fact that it’s also a chronograph. There’s a chronograph seconds hand mounted centrally and a chronograph minutes and hours subdial at 12 o’clock. All of the hands, numerals and markings on the watch are either red or blue depending on the edition.
Powering the IWC x Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month is the IWC-Manufacture Calibre 89802, an automatic movement with a 68-hour power reserve. That’s an impressive power reserve for a perpetual calendar chronograph. It’s visible through the exhibition, although the movement itself has a relatively pared back appearance with fairly understated finishing that helps maintain the quasi-industrial appearance of the villain gear.
Both versions are limited to 25 pieces. As for price, it’s £51,600, not unexpected for a perpetual calendar, but still not insubstantial. The watches are exclusively available from select IWC boutiques.
As for a final opinion on the launch, the IWC x Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month is far more interesting than its simple black and red or black and blue colourways suggest. It’s technologically advanced, robust and features a unique display in IWC’s range. Honestly, these watches are much more interesting than any film the DCEU has put out in the last few years.
Price and Specs:
More details at IWC.
