Engineered for man who never throw a good idea.

The Plastiki is the most adventurous and iconic expedition since the Kontiki. David de Rothchild’s proposal to sail a solar- and wind-powered catamaran made of 12,500 reclaimed plastic bottles 8000 nautical miles from San Francisco to Sydney quickly turned out to be a global event with millions of people following the adventure. In the course of the expedition across the Pacific Ocean, the pollution, in particular plastic waste in the world’s oceans and putout a rallying cry for a greater consciousness and respect for the environment.

The Plastiki expedition was the triumph for sustainable technologies and proved that waste can be converted into valuable new resources. The expedition team obtained the electricity they bicycle-powered generators. Also on board was a water capture and processing system, and a hydroponic garden that provided fresh green on the open sea.

IWC Schaffhausen, the expedition’s Official Partner, has a similar commitment to sustainability. Now officially certified as a CO2-neutral, the Swiss watch manufacturer covers all its energy needs with ecological power. Whether it’s high-efficiency filter system, energy recycling, making use of rainwater or solar collection, IWC plays a pioneering role.
As you would expect, IWC dedicated a watch to the Plastiki mission: The Ingenieur Automatic Mission Earth Edition “Plastiki”, a model that is both elegant and eminently suited to the rigors of a demanding expedition. David de Rothschild and his crew wore it during their four-mouth voyage. It was no fluke that the watch survived the hardships unscathed. A series of 30 tests ensure its reliability under even the toughest conditions. These include climate tests, abrupt change of temperature and long-term corrosion tests. Its mechanical movement features am integrated shock absorber, is water-resistant to 12 bar and withstands magnetic fields of up to 80,000 A/m. The case is a strongbox, so to speak, built to take the extremes of such an epic adventure. No matter how inhospitable the climes you venture into, it’s good to have a companion you can rely on, come what may.

IWC. Engineered for man.