Watch Check — Timepieces in F1: The Movie

Watch Check — Timepieces in F1: The Movie

A Behind-the-Scenes Look At IWC Watches That Bring Hollywood’s Fastest Film to Life

When F1: The Movie roared into theaters, much of the attention naturally went to the breathtaking racing sequences, the authenticity of the on-track action, and the A-list cast that includes Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, and Javier Bardem. But for watch enthusiasts, another star was sharing the spotlight — IWC Schaffhausen.

From the fictional APXGP team’s pits to close-up hero shots, IWC timepieces are woven seamlessly into the film’s fabric. This wasn’t a superficial exercise in product placement. According to interviews with IWC CEO Christoph Grainger-Herr, the partnership was as immersive as the racing itself, involving custom-built watches, historical inspirations, and some of the most meticulous on-screen watch integration seen in years.

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IWC’s Cinematic Pit Stop

IWC’s connection to motorsport isn’t new. Since 2013, the Swiss watchmaker has been the official engineering partner of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. This real-world partnership made them a natural fit for F1: The Movie, which director Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick) and producer Jerry Bruckheimer set out to make as authentic as possible.

The production crew filmed during actual Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends over two and a half seasons — a logistical feat that meant shooting in narrow windows between qualifying and race sessions. IWC’s contribution was equally involved. Nearly 100 watches were supplied to the costume department, spanning chronographs, perpetual calendars, Ingenieurs, and Big Pilots. Branding appeared everywhere from team suits and helmets to gloves and pit wall clocks.

As Grainger-Herr told Esquire, designing watches for a film isn’t simply about choosing from the current catalog. Models must fit the characters, remain contemporary by the time of release, and sometimes be built years ahead of schedule — all while meeting Hollywood’s famously compressed timelines.

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Brad Pitt’s Ingenieur: A Custom Build for Sonny Hayes

If there’s one watch that has captured the attention of fans and collectors alike, it’s the one worn by Brad Pitt’s character, Sonny Hayes. This is no off-the-shelf model — it’s a customized vintage IWC Ingenieur ref. 1832 from 1976, originally designed by the legendary Gérald Genta.

The Vision

Pitt, a known vintage watch enthusiast, envisioned Hayes as a veteran racer with a deeply personal timepiece — a watch passed down from his father, worn through decades of victories, losses, and life on the road. As Pitt explained through the production team, he wanted a piece that was “neo-vintage,” with visible signs of age, yet refined enough for the camera.

The Slimline Challenge

One of Pitt’s key requests was to make the watch “half as thick” as the original Ingenieur SL “Jumbo.” The 1832 was famous for its robust construction, including an anti-magnetic soft iron Faraday cage, but that added height and a protruding caseback. For on-screen wearability and aesthetics, the bulk had to go.

IWC’s engineers responded by removing the Faraday cage entirely, replacing it with a 3D-printed polymer movement holder, and fitting a new flat caseback. This improved comfort and reduced profile — at the cost of some water resistance and magnetic protection, acceptable compromises for a film prop.

Cloister Watch Company’s Role

To perfect the look, Pitt turned to Cloister Watch Co., a New York-based specialist in era-accurate vintage customization. Founder Cooper Zelnick oversaw the project for the watch, coordinating the work to ensure it achieved the exact shade of green Pitt envisioned, as confirmed in GQ’s behind-the-scenes coverage.

From Concept to Set in Record Time

Time was as much of an adversary off-screen as it was in the film’s storyline. Only seven weeks were available to build two identical watches for production, one as a backup. Pitt and Zelnick were in frequent communication during the process, finalizing details in the eleventh hour. The watches were hand-delivered to set on July 4, 2023, just before shooting at the British Grand Prix.

By the time the cameras rolled, Sonny Hayes’ Ingenieur had evolved from a design sketch and an actor’s concept into a piece of cinematic — and horological — history.

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Damson Idris’ Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41

While Pitt’s Ingenieur took center stage, Damson Idris’ character, Joshua Pearce, brought his own statement piece to the grid: a gold and black IWC Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41. The color scheme was chosen to match APXGP’s striking livery, itself a nod to Team Lotus’ John Player Special cars of the 1970s.

Beyond its looks, the watch symbolized Pearce’s status as a rising star in the sport — bold, competitive, and poised for victory. Close-up shots ensured this “hero watch” played a key role in marketing tie-ins for IWC’s contemporary collection.

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The Rest of the Grid

Eagle-eyed viewers can spot an entire paddock of IWC models throughout the film:

• Javier Bardem’s character wears a Big Pilot.
• APXGP crew members sport Pilot’s Chronographs in steel and Ceratanium.
• Other characters wear perpetual calendars and the current green-dial Ingenieur.
• Even the garage wall clocks bear IWC branding, completing the immersive brand presence.

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More Than Product Placement

For IWC, F1: The Movie was about more than placing watches on wrists. As Grainger-Herr told Revolution Watch, it was about integrating timepieces into a fully realized world, giving them context, emotional resonance, and legacy moments that transcend marketing campaigns.

The approach mirrors IWC’s involvement in Top Gun: Maverick, where realism and engineering excellence took precedence over CGI shortcuts. In F1, that philosophy translated to authentic racing action, genuine driving by the cast, and watches that felt like they belonged to their characters — not the prop department.

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Closing Lap

F1: The Movie isn’t just a story about speed, competition, and character. It’s also a love letter to detail — from the aerodynamics of the cars to the dials of the watches. Brad Pitt’s customized Ingenieur stands out as both a narrative device and a testament to what happens when Hollywood storytelling meets horological craftsmanship.

In the end, these timepieces don’t just mark time — they capture it, preserving a piece of cinematic and watchmaking history for years to come.

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From the Big Screen to Your Wrist

My Jewelry Repair Can Make It Happen

Just as Brad Pitt brought his vision for a customized IWC Ingenieur to life, you too can create — or restore — a timepiece that’s uniquely yours. At My Jewelry Repair, our team of Certified Watchmakers offers premier, authorized services for luxury watches, ensuring every restoration or customization meets the highest standards of craftsmanship.

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