Introducing IWC Unveils The First Fully Luminous Ceramic Concept Watch

IWC says Ceralume was developed by its experimental engineering division, XPL. The process involves mixing ceramic powder with Super-LumiNova pigments, the luminous material typically used on dials. According to IWC, in dark chamber testing, the case was able to emit a bright blue light for 24 hours (it didn't mention how long it took to "charge" the luminous material in the case). 

Typically, a white ceramic case would be made by mixing zirconium oxide with other metallic oxides. To arrive at Ceralume, IWC added Super-LumiNova pigments to this powdered mixture. It says one of the challenges was developing a homogenous mixture of raw materials since the particles are different sizes, causing particle accumulation in the powder mixture. So, IWC used a ball milling process – which is essentially what it sounds like – putting the powders together and using a ball to grind them down before sintering (heating) the mixture at a high temperature to form the case. 

IWC claims this is the first "fully luminous" ceramic watch. As far as I can tell, the new Ceralume sets it apart from something like Bell & Ross's BR-X5 Green Lum (and perhaps others – let me know in the comments), which has a multi-layer case, the top layers of which are a luminescent fiberglass composite (it has a non-lume titanium core). 

Using the new Ceralume process and material, IWC has developed its first Ceralume concept watch, a Pilot's Watch 41. For good measure, it's also mixed in Super-LumiNova pigments in the strap to make a luminous white rubber strap. Of course, the dial is also luminous. 

The IWC Pilot's Chronograph 41 Ceralume Concept made its debut on ambassador Lewis Hamilton's wrist during F1's Monaco Grand Prix weekend. To be clear, this is a concept watch, and there are no hints that a broader commercial release is in the plan. That said, IWC provides that Ceralume will form the foundation for future development and releases. 

In 1986, IWC developed the first wristwatch with a black ceramic case, so material innovation – in particular ceramic – just makes sense for the Schaffhausen brand. It has continued to make ceramic cases a core part of its collection and identity. This Pilot's Chronograph is basically a play on the Top Gun Lake Tahoe, which I'd already consider one of IWC's better-looking watches. 

It was just a year ago that IWC introduced its first full-lume dial, so it'll be interesting to see how this new tech is eventually rolled out in other ways.

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