THE IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN BIG PILOT’S WATCH SHOCK ABSORBER XPL WORN AND SHOCK-TESTED BY TOTO WOLFF HIMSELF IS AUCTIONED BY BONHAMS TO BENEFIT LAUREUS SPORT FOR GOOD
Schaffhausen, 9th October, 2025: IWC Schaffhausen, Laureus Sport for Good and Bonhams team up for a unique auction. Up for bidding is one of a limited edition of 100 pieces of the Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL Toto Wolff x Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team. The watch’s extraordinary shock resistance was put to the test on the wrist of the Mercedes F1 CEO & Team Principal himself, who was wearing it during the Singapore Grand Prix™ last weekend. This masterwork of engineering, whose movement is protected by a special shock protection system and capable of surviving accelerations in excess of 30,000 g, will be accompanied by a polo shirt signed by Toto Wolff. Bidding opens online at Bonhams on 15th October and will end on Saturday 25th October, live on stage at the Laureus Charity Night in Zurich. The full proceeds from this auction will go to the Laureus Foundation Switzerland in support of its various sport programmes.
Since 2005, Laureus Sport for Good has used sport as a tool to help children and young people overcome violence, discrimination and disadvantage. The Foundation operates numerous social sport programmes in countries all over the world. IWC Schaffhausen has been a Global Partner of Laureus Sport for Good since its inception and also collaborates with the Laureus Foundation Switzerland. A highlight of this partnership is the Laureus Charity Night in Zurich, a fundraising event where IWC donates a unique timepiece every year. Following the success of last year’s auction, bidding will again be offered online in collaboration with Bonhams. The complete proceeds will be donated to the Laureus Foundation Switzerland to support its social sport programmes aimed at supporting disadvantaged young people.
The Laureus Charity Night, one of my favourite events, brings together a passionate group of supporters and partners, all united by a commitment to driving social change through sport to create a better future for children and young adults. This time, again, we are honoured to present a very special timepiece for auction – a highly complex watch that has been worn and shock-tested by none other than Toto Wolff, the CEO and Team Principal of our partner, the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team. By collaborating with Bonhams and making the auction accessible online, we are enabling even more interested bidders to participate and contribute to an amazing result.
Up for bidding is one of a limited edition of 100 pieces of the Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL Toto Wolff x Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team. This special edition of the Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL is dedicated to Toto Wolff, the CEO and Team Principal. The idea for this watch originated during the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix when Toto Wolff wore a prototype model on his wrist. In a viral moment, he famously slammed his headset on the table as tensions on the racetrack reached boiling point. Remarkably, the watch on his wrist survived the incident unscathed.
It owes its extraordinary resilience to the integrated SPRIN-g PROTECT® shock absorber system, which was developed by IWC’s Engineering Division XPL. Protecting the movement from accelerations of up to an incredible 30,000 g, the system cushions the movement inside the case using a spring made from bulk metallic glass (BMG), an advanced material that is significantly more elastic than conventional metals. When the watch is subjected to an impact, the force is evenly distributed across the spring’s length and width before it can reach the movement and its components.
The watch being auctioned was personally worn by Toto Wolff during the recent Singapore Grand Prix™, where Mercedes driver George Russell took first place. In addition to the watch, the auction lot also contains an elegant white team polo shirt, signed by Toto Wolff himself. The watch is offered with an estimate of CHF80,000-200,000 with all proceeds being donated to charity.
Penny Andrews, Bonhams Head of Watches London, said: “Building on from the success of Bonhams IWC and Toto Wolff Charity Auction in 2022 that raised £160,000 for charity, we are delighted to take part in this year’s charity gala, offering the limited-edition IWC Schaffhausen timepiece worn by Toto Wolff. The Laureus Charity Night is a notable event, where significant funds are raised for such a valuable cause, helping children f ind positivity through sports. The watch will be available on bonhams.com from 15-25 October with all proceeds donated to the charity.”
Bonhams will auction the watch from leading Swiss luxury watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen in an online sale that runs from 15th-25th October on bonhams.com. The Laureus x IWC Schaffhausen online sale will end to coincide with the annual Laureus Sport for Good Gala, which takes place in Zurich on 25th October.
https://www.bonhams.com/auction/31972
LAUREUS FOUNDATION SWITZERLAND
The aim of the Laureus Foundation Switzerland is to enable children and young people to live a positive life full of self-determination through sports. Beyond sports and its associated values, Laureus also systematically promotes the integration and personal development of the young, as well as their physical and mental well-being. The main focus is not on achievement but rather on enjoying sports and shared experiences. The foundation helps young people who need support – regardless of their gender, ethnicity, religion, social class or health issues.
Laureus supports over 15,000 children in Switzerland through six charitable sports projects each year. The dedication of around 30 Swiss ambassadors, including track athlete Mujinga Kambundji, skier Marco Odermatt and Schwingen wrestler Christian Stucki, is a wonderful source of inspiration for all the children and young people involved. The Laureus Foundation Switzerland was established in 2006 by IWC Schaffhausen in collaboration with Mercedes Benz as part of the international Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.
ABOUT THE BONHAMS NETWORK
Bonhams is a global network of auction houses, with the largest number of international salerooms, offering the widest range of collecting categories and selling at all price points. Bonhams is recognised for its bespoke service, and a dedication to local market relationships, enhanced by a global platform. With 14 salerooms, Bonhams presents over 1,000 sales annually, across more than 60 specialist categories, including fine art, collectables, luxury, wine & spirits, and collector cars.
Founded in 1793, Bonhams has representatives in more than 30 countries and operates flagship salerooms in London, New York, Paris, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong. In 2022, Bonhams added four international auction houses to its network: Bukowskis, Stockholm; Bruun Rasmussen, Copenhagen; Cornette de Saint Cyr, Paris and Brussels; and Skinner, Massachusetts. The success of Bonhams’ global strategy is a result of recognising the shift in growing intercontinental buying and increased digital engagement.
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IWC Schaffhausen is the Engineer of Watchmaking. In 1868, the American watchmaker and engineer Florentine Ariosto Jones established the ‘International Watch Company’ in Schaffhausen in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. By combining the best of human craftsmanship and creativity with cutting-edge industrial technology and processes, he laid the foundation for IWC’s unique engineering approach to watchmaking.
IWC’s distinctive and pure design is brought to life through collections ranging from elegant dress watches to sports and luxury sports watches, notably the Portugieser, Portofino, Pilot’s Watches and Ingenieur. Over its more than 150-year history, IWC has earned a reputation for creating professional instrument watches and functional complications, especially chronographs and calendars, which are ingenious, robust and easy to use.
A pioneer in the use of titanium and ceramic, IWC specializes in performance materials such as Ceratanium®. IWC’s advanced engineering division XPL develops technologies that enhance the durability of mechanical watches and extend their applications to environments with extreme conditions such as jet aviation and human spaceflight.
IWC is a leader in luxury watchmaking, crafting timepieces built to last for generations and continuously improving every aspect of how it manufactures, distributes and services its watches responsibly. Empowering the next generation of engineers, the brand also partners with organizations that work globally to support children and young people. IWC. EngineeredTM.