At this year’s Watches and Wonders, IWC Schaffhausen introduces the Ingenieur Automatic 40 in a new generation. Originally released in 1955, the latest execution of this legendary timepiece takes inspiration from Gérald Genta’s Ingenieur SL from 1976. With his unique artistic signature, Genta succeeded in lending the Ingenieur a new, highly distinctive visual identity thanks to a screw-on bezel with five recesses, a dial with a unique pattern, and an integrated H-link bracelet. Today, his creation is a collector’s favorite and one of the most sought-after vintage models from IWC.
The overall dimensions of the stainless steel case and integrated bracelet have been reworked down to the smallest detail. While the Ingenieur SL from the 1970s had nose-shaped horns, the new Ingenieur Automatic 40 is equipped with a newly engineered middle-link attachment. It is water resistant to 100 meters and features soft-iron inner cases to protect the movement from magnetic fields.
One of the most striking changes of the new model is the introduction of functional, polygonal screws on its bezel. For the Ingenieur SL, a bezel with five recesses was screwed onto the case ring. As a result, the recesses ended up in a different position on each watch. With the Ingenieur Automatic 40, five screws secure the bezel to the case. The screws now have a technical function and, as a result, are always in the same position.
The dial, available in black, “aqua,” and silver-plated, is distinguished by a new, very cool “grid” structure. Consisting of small lines offset by 90 degrees to each other, it is stamped into the soft iron blank before it is galvanized.
The IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40 is powered by the genuine 32111 caliber with an automatic pawl winding system and a power reserve of 72 hours. Pricing is marked at $11,700.
To learn more, visit IWC, here.