Chris Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen: “We have created the watch for the next space age”
As space exploration has once again made headlines since the Artemis-2 mission, the IWC Schaffhausen brand has been focusing on technological innovations related to the next space age for several years now. During the unveiling of new releases at Watches and Wonders Geneva 2026, Luxury Tribune had the opportunity to meet with Chris Grainger-Herr, who has led IWC for nine years.
Conceptual, technological, and even futuristic, IWC Schaffhausen’s 2026 new releases will appeal to all space enthusiasts and fans of pilot’s watches—the brand’s flagship collection.
Three partnerships with their sights set on the sky—The Little Prince, Vast, and Boom—will be the highlights of the Schaffhausen-based watchmaker’s lineup at Watches and Wonders. The partnership with the American manufacturer Vast, designer of the first commercial space station Haven-1, has given rise to a watch specifically designed to be worn there: the Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive.
Why did you choose to enter into this partnership with Vast?
I am passionate about companies that build projects that combine technology and design; this is an integral part of my professional journey and of our vision of design at IWC. I am just as drawn to technology and engineering as I am to the beauty and emotion that design can evoke. Vast excels in both of these areas. The company knows how to bring a pure design concept to life and invent a high-tech product. This duality brought us together, right from the very first moments of our meeting with Hillary Coe, VAST’s Director of Design and Marketing.
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How did you meet, and what is the story behind this partnership?
The aviation world is a small one, and when in 2016 we chose to forge deeper ties with the industry—including with U.S. pilots—it made sense that at some point we would cross paths with astronauts, as these two worlds intersect, particularly in flight simulators. We subsequently met Jared Isaacman (Editor’s note: In 2024, Jared Isaacman became the first private astronaut, notably flying twice with Elon Musk’s SpaceX), Thomas Pesquet, and eventually the founders of Vast. This collaborative project immediately felt seamless, logical, and aligned with our values. Our space-inspired model: the Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive was born from this collaboration. We could never have imagined it without them. It was absolutely captivating! It’s a watch that perfectly embodies what an instrument watch is.
Where do you think this story will take IWC in the future?
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IWC Strengthens Ties with Formula 1
On July 2, IWC announced its partnership with the upcoming Formula 1 film produced by Apple, set for a worldwide release on June 25, 2025. A decade after becoming the official engineering partner of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team, the Swiss watchmaker is deepening its relationship with motorsport.
IWC Partners With American Company Vast
On Wednesday, the Swiss watchmaker announced its partnership with American company Vast, a specialist in space habitation technologies. It will become the “official timekeeper” for future orbital flights.
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