Elysium
IWC Schaffhausen is the Official Timekeeper for Vast, a space habitation company. This engineering partnership will create luxury, space-ready mechanical watches.
IWC Schaffhausen and Vast. The renowned Swiss luxury watch manufacturer has announced a landmark strategic engineering collaboration with Vast, the pioneering space habitation technology company. This alliance is not merely a brand partnership; it’s a mission to push the very limits of horological durability and performance, preparing mechanical watches for the ultimate hostile environment: space.
On September 24, 2025, from Schaffhausen, Switzerland, and Long Beach, CA, the companies unveiled the partnership, naming IWC the “Official Timekeeper” of Vast. The goal is two-fold: enhance the performance of IWC’s watches on Earth and, more ambitiously, develop “spaceflight-ready” timepieces for future long-duration missions.
Engineering Meets the Final Frontier
This collaboration is driven by a shared “passion for innovation,” as noted by Vast CEO Max Haot. Vast is currently developing Haven-1, slated to be the world’s first commercial space station and a key innovation lab in low-Earth orbit (LEO).
The partnership provides IWC with an unprecedented opportunity for real-world testing and research. At Vast headquarters, IWC watch prototypes will undergo the same rigorous testing as Vast’s own critical hardware for the upcoming Haven Demo and Haven-1 missions. This includes:
- Simulated launch vibration conditions.
- Evaluation of material compatibility with the space environment.
This in-depth engineering validation will solidify the authenticity of IWC’s long-standing aerospace lineage, which dates back nearly a century to its roots in aviation. As IWC CEO Chris Grainger-Herr stated, the collaboration is a “natural evolution” of this heritage, enabling IWC to intensify its R&D for timepieces that can endure the ultimate test.
The Watch as an Emotional Anchor
Beyond the technical challenge, the CEOs both highlighted the profound significance of a mechanical timepiece in space.
“During future, long-duration space missions, a mechanical watch showing Earth time can also be the object that emotionally connects the astronauts to their home.” — Chris Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen
In an era defined by bold space exploration, a luxury mechanical watch becomes more than a precision instrument—it is a tangible link to Earth and a symbol of human ingenuity.
IWC Schaffhausen and Vast. Growing Space Portfolio
IWC has already made its mark in the commercial space arena, gaining vital initial experience through its presence on board the Inspiration4 and Polaris Dawn human spaceflight missions. This new strategic alliance with Vast, which is leading the development of the next generation of space stations, firmly positions IWC at the vanguard of space-age horology.
Vast, founded in 2021 by Jed McCaleb, is committed to creating artificial gravity habitations for the long-term future, including Haven-2, the proposed successor to the ISS. This inaugural brand partnership with IWC underscores the burgeoning commercial opportunities in LEO and the increasing role of private companies in advancing humanity’s presence in space.
This is a collaboration that promises to redefine the “professional instrument watch” for a new era—one that extends far beyond the Earth’s atmosphere.
The Partners at a Glance: Timekeeping Heritage Meets Space Pioneering
This strategic collaboration unites two companies with a shared legacy of innovation—one in pioneering the sky and one in pioneering space—setting the stage for a new era of space-ready precision.
IWC Schaffhausen: Engineering Beyond Gravity
IWC Schaffhausen stands as a beacon of Swiss luxury watchmaking, distinguished since 1868 by its dedication to engineering excellence. Established by American watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones, IWC has consistently married human craftsmanship with advanced technology.
Known for its professional instrument watches and robust complications like chronographs and calendars, IWC has always pushed material science. The company was an early pioneer in the use of titanium and ceramics. Today, IWC specializes in highly engineered cases made from advanced materials, including coloured ceramics and Ceratanium®. This proprietary material blends the lightness and structural integrity of titanium with a hardness and scratch-resistance similar to ceramic, making IWC uniquely positioned to meet the extreme demands of spaceflight.
Vast: Building Humanity’s Future in Orbit
Founded in 2021 by visionary entrepreneur Jed McCaleb, Vast is leading the charge in developing the next generation of space stations, dedicated to enabling long-term living and thriving off-world. Vast’s flagship project, Haven-1, is on track to become the world’s first commercial space station, with a target launch in 2026. This human-centric station will host an innovation lab for scientific research, technology development, and in-space manufacturing. Looking ahead, Vast is also developing Haven-2, which is designed to serve NASA’s Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) program, aiming to replace the International Space Station (ISS) as a key micro-gravity laboratory. Vast’s ultimate ambition is to develop artificial gravity habitations, ensuring a sustainable spacefaring future for all of humanity.
