Proper Space Watch - IWC VENTURER VERTICAL DRIVE

Why It Matters

It signals a shift toward purpose‑built luxury watches for extreme environments, expanding IWC’s market relevance and influencing broader horological innovation.

Key Takeaways

• IWC created first watch specifically engineered for space use.
• Crown replaced by bezel and side “rocket switch” for gloved operation.
• Hybrid winding: automatic on Earth, manual in zero‑gravity.
• White zirconium ceramic case offers extreme scratch resistance and lightness.
• 120‑hour power reserve and 10 G testing certify flight readiness.

Summary

The video reviews IWC’s new Ventura Vertical Drive, the first wristwatch engineered from the ground up for space missions rather than merely being space‑qualified.

IWC abandons the traditional crown, using a top‑mounted bezel and a left‑side “rocket switch” that astronauts can operate while wearing pressurised gloves. The movement combines automatic winding for gravity environments with a manual wind mode for zero‑G, and it houses the caliber 32722 with a 120‑hour power reserve.

Housed in a 44.3 mm white zirconium‑oxide ceramic case with a Ceratanium titanium‑ceramic back, the watch endures temperatures from +100 °C to –150 °C and up to 10 G of vibration. A 24‑hour outer scale and blue‑tinged inner ring reference Earth’s day‑night cycle and ocean view from orbit.

Though oversized for everyday wear, the Ventura Vertical Drive showcases IWC’s experimental ethos and could set a benchmark for future astronaut‑grade timepieces, reinforcing the brand’s position at the intersection of luxury watchmaking and aerospace technology.

Original Description

Hands-on with the new IWC VENTURER VERTICAL DRIVE a watch designed for space.