IWC’s Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 and 43 APXGP F1 Movie Watch Review

In case you’ve not been keeping track of your big budget film trailers, F1 will be launching in cinemas soon. Not the actual grand prix mind you, but the Brad Pitt and Damson Idris starring big screen spectacular. So far, it’s promised insane driving stunts, a gruff Brad Pitt and dubious dialogue. But more importantly lots of IWC watches built exclusively for the movie, such as the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 and 43 APXGP.

APXGP, in case you were wondering, is the fictional racing team in the F1 movie, standing for Apex Grand Prix. That’s about all I know on that front, other than they apparently have great taste in watches. There are two different watches in the line-up (well technically three, but we’ll get onto that). The first is the Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41, a rose gold heavyweight with a black lacquered dial, worn by Damson Idris in the film. It’s certainly the splashier release, but for me, the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 APXGP is the superior.

The main difference between these and the standard pilot’s watches is that half what would normally be high-contrast white indexes – specifically, the minute markers and subdial scales – are now in rose gold. That sounds like a very small change but by god it has an impact. Rather than glaring in black and white, the entire dial is softened and has much more of a vintage gilt feel, hurried along by the lume-filled, rose gold handset.

The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph is actually available in two different sizes, 41mm and 43mm, but I’m personally counting it as one watch. By this point, it’s probably not worth rehashing my dainty wrists, but needless to say I much prefer the smaller model. The chronograph subdials are pared-back enough that it’s still perfectly readable and the chunky case, measuring a relatively hefty 14.7mm thick, has plenty of wrist presence.

The only reason you’d be able to tell at a glance that this is a film-specific watch is the strap, which has been printed with the APXGP logo. It’s black-on-black so it’s not too bold and the strap’s comfortable in the way only chunky rubber can be. But I’d still probably swap it to something a bit more vintage. It’s a good thing that they’re satisfying quick-change numbers.

Inside is the IWC calibre 69385, as is the case with all the film inspired chronos. It’s a column-wheel chronograph with 46-hours of power reserve and a standard bi-directional rotor. It’s basically IWC’s entry-level chronograph calibre, but it’s good at what it does.

Honestly, there’s not much more to say about the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 APXGP. And in a week of intensely hyped launches orders of magnitude more complicated from across the Watches & Wonders spectrum, sometimes it’s nice to see something that just, well, nice. Here’s hoping the film is as good. If you’re still more interested in the Ingenieur releases, there’s also a movie tie in there with the racing green edition.

More details at IWC.

​Oracle Time 

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