This replica Pilots IW389005 is the chronograph edition dedicated to the Mercedes-AMG partnership, built in a 44.5mm ceramic case that establishes it as the larger, more assertive sibling in the AMG collaboration series. IWC chose matte black ceramic for a reason: it resists scratches better than titanium or steel and maintains its finish over years of daily wear. The oversized 44.5mm diameter echoes the proportions of the Top Gun line, though the AMG branding on the dial and caseback distinguishes this as a motorsport-focused piece rather than a military-inspired one.

Build Details

• Case diameter: 44.5mm
• Case material: matte black ceramic
• Dial: black with grey subdials
• Crystal: sapphire, flat with anti-reflective coating
• Chronograph: column-wheel automatic
• Crown: screw-down with AMG logo
• Functions: hours, minutes, chronograph, date

Ceramic keeps the 44.5mm case lighter than an equivalent steel piece, which offsets the size increase for wearers stepping up from the 41mm variants.

What Collectors Notice

The IW389005 sits in a narrow space between the Top Gun chronographs and the standard Pilots line. Collectors gravitate toward it because the ceramic case matches Top Gun build quality while the AMG dial design offers something the standard Top Gun does not: motorsport provenance without military iconography. The grey subdial rings against the matte black base create depth that flat-black dials cannot achieve. IWC used a similar approach on the Mark XX IW328203 in blue, where dial texture elevates an otherwise simple three-hand layout. See the full range of configurations across the Pilots category to compare sizing and materials side by side.

This vs Other Versions

Against the 41mm IW388108 AMG Petronas edition, the IW389005 adds 3.5mm of case diameter and swaps metal for ceramic. That trade-off gives you a bolder wrist presence and superior scratch resistance at the expense of weight savings that titanium provides. The larger pushers are easier to operate with gloves, a nod to its motorsport application. For collectors weighing ceramic against titanium in the AMG line, this replica Pilots IW389005 represents the maximum-impact option in the partnership series.