Max Haot, CEO of Vast & Chris Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen.
For IWC Schaffhausen’s next big act, the Swiss luxury watch manufacturer is looking at space. A new strategic collaboration with Vast, the pioneering space habitation technology company will aim to push the boundaries of watchmaking to the harsh environment of the cosmos.
As the ‘Official Timekeeper’ of Vast, IWC is looking to launch an engineering collab to enhance the durability and performance of mechanical watches on Earth as well as space. Looking towards the stars is undoubtedly the next logical step for the Swiss manufacturer, which boasts a long aviation history.
The brand may have found the perfect partner in Vast, which is engineering and building the world’s first commercial space station. Named Haven-1, the company will soon launch Haven Demo, an in-orbit test bed for critical space station technologies.
A state-of-the-art, human-centric space station, Haven-1 is designed to be an innovation lab for both private astronauts and government missions. During missions, the crew can utilise the Haven-1 Lab to conduct scientific research, technology development, and in-space manufacturing that will benefit life on Earth and support long-term exploration of space.
Space, The Final Frontier…
Mission Control Center at Vast.
Both Vast and IWC Schaffhausen share a passion for innovation driven by scientific progress. As such, the collaboration aims to chart a new way forward for spaceflight-ready timepieces. As Vast advances humanity’s presence in low-Earth orbit and unlocks a new era of scientific progress in space, IWC aims to capitalise on this by developing timepieces that capture the ethos of exploration and discovery.
“Through our presence onboard the Inspiration4 and Polaris Dawn commercial human spaceflight missions, IWC has gained invaluable initial experience in the field of space exploration,” explains Chris Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen. “This strategic engineering collaboration will enable IWC to continue to advance its innovations and develop spaceflight-ready watches.”
At Vast headquarters, Vast engineers will test prototypes to put the hardware through simulated launch vibration conditions and evaluate material compatibility with Haven-1. The prototypes will be evaluated and appropriately tested in a similar way to some of the hardware that will fly on Haven Demo and Haven-1 – a testament to the authenticity of IWC’s aerospace lineage.
