Mercedes‑Benz is celebrating a landmark moment in automotive history as the brand marks “140 Years of Innovation”, honouring the 1886 invention of the automobile and the engineering breakthroughs that have shaped mobility ever since. To commemorate the anniversary, long‑standing partner IWC Schaffhausen has introduced a special limited‑edition Big Pilot’s Watch featuring its newly engineered Perpetual Calendar ProSet mechanism — one of the Swiss manufacturer’s most significant technical advancements in decades.
The commemorative timepiece pays tribute to the shared heritage of innovation between the two brands. Visible through the sapphire‑glass case back is the first joint logo of Daimler Motoren‑Gesellschaft and Benz & Cie., symbolising both the 140‑year milestone and the historic 1926 merger that united the pioneering companies behind Mercedes‑Benz.
Since Carl Benz filed the patent for the first automobile and Gottlieb Daimler built his motorised carriage shortly after, Mercedes‑Benz has consistently pushed the boundaries of engineering, safety, comfort and design. From the world’s first automobile to today’s intelligent electric vehicles, the brand’s commitment to innovation has remained central to its identity.
IWC Schaffhausen’s partnership with Mercedes‑Benz reflects this shared philosophy. The collaboration began in 2004 with Mercedes‑AMG, expanding in 2013 when IWC became the Official Engineering Partner of the Mercedes‑AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team. Over the years, the brands have co‑created special‑edition watches inspired by iconic Mercedes‑Benz design codes, including the legendary G‑Class, and have delivered exclusive experiences for customers — from Formula One races to AMG driving events.
The newly launched Big Pilot’s Watch with Perpetual Calendar ProSet showcases IWC’s latest innovation. The mechanism, introduced earlier this year at Watches and Wonders Geneva, allows the perpetual calendar to be adjusted forward and backward via a single crown position, making calendar corrections as intuitive as setting the time. This marks a major evolution in IWC’s perpetual calendar engineering.
Mercedes‑Benz’s anniversary celebrations continue globally under the theme “140 Years. 140 Places.”, with three S‑Class saloons travelling to 140 destinations across six continents. Covering more than 50,000 kilometres, the journey highlights the brand’s technological leadership, heritage and global presence.
Together, Mercedes‑Benz and IWC Schaffhausen honour a legacy defined by precision, performance and pioneering spirit — celebrating 140 years of innovation while looking ahead to the next era of mobility and craftsmanship.
