Continuing its innovation journey with ceramic materials, IWC has just announced its latest breakthrough: Ceralume luminous ceramic technology. This pioneering development marks the debut of the brand’s first fully glow-in-the-dark ceramic watch. Engineered by IWC’s XPL division, this technology enables the creation of fully luminous ceramic watch cases, promising to combine ceramic’s renowned scratch resistance with a captivating luminous effect.
A Legacy of Ceramic Innovations
IWC has a long history of ceramic watchmaking, beginning in 1986 with the Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph. This iconic timepiece, with its distinctive ’80s aesthetic, melded traditional designs with the modernity of ceramic. Since then, IWC has expanded its ceramic offerings, including the ceramized titanium Ceratanium, pushing the boundaries of material science in horology.
The Science Behind Ceralume
Ceralume is produced by homogeneously mixing ceramic powders with high-grade Super-LumiNova pigments, the same pigments used in luminous dial markers and hands. In tests, a fully luminous concept watch crafted with Ceralume emitted a bright blueish light for over 24 hours. This achievement was made possible through a collaboration with Swiss technology company RC Tritec, which helped develop a ceramic compound compatible with glow-in-the-dark pigments.
Manufacturing Challenges and Solutions
Creating Ceralume involves intricate processes. Conventional white ceramic is made by mixing zirconium oxide with other metallic oxides, shaping it into a “green body,” and then sintering it at high temperatures. For Ceralume, Super-LumiNova pigments are added to this mix. One major challenge was achieving a uniform mixture of raw materials despite varying particle sizes. IWC’s engineers customized a ball milling process to ensure a perfectly homogeneous mix, adjusting sintering and grinding parameters to suit the luminous ceramic.
The Debut Watch: IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Ceralume
The first watch to feature a Ceralume case is the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Ceralume, boasting a white luminescent dial and a matching luminescent rubber strap infused with Super-LumiNova pigments. While this watch would undoubtedly shine at UV-lit events, it remains a prototype. IWC has stated that “The patent-pending Ceralume technology will form the foundation of future developments and releases.” Though no Ceralume watches are available for purchase yet, enthusiasts can look forward to future models incorporating this exciting technology.