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IWC Schaffhausen Honors the Modern Ingenieur For the Icon’s 50th Anniversary
The success and popularity of IWC’s Ingenieur timepiece started five decades ago with an innovative, out-of-the-box design from an artistic wizard of the watch world. Today, the watchmaker commemorates that legacy with a pair of appealing, thoughtful limited editions.
At the height of his creative powers in 1976, legendary watch designer Gérald Genta conceived the Ingenieur SL (Ref. 1832) for watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen as a bold successor to the brand’s first generations of the model, and essentially carved out a profound chapter in timepiece history. Especially as a luxury steel sports watch with an integrated bracelet – a fairly radical concept then – it set the stage nicely for the future of watch design innovation.
Even though his SL was not a resounding commercial success at the time (although, today, you’d pay a five-digit price for an example, if you can find one), he also provided the blueprint for successive generations of the Ingenieur timepiece and its rebirth in 2023. Genta’s foundational notes of an integrated bracelet, five functional screws for the circular bezel, and generally a graphic “grid” dial pattern continue as the Ingenieur’s enduring hallmarks.
To recognize the passing of a half-century of the Genta-derived Ingenieur, today IWC launches two stainless-steel special editions, one in 40mm and one in 35mm (both, of course, on integrated steel bracelets), that strike at the heart of the historic matter, both staying true to the timepiece’s intent and weaving in some canny odes to the SL’s creator and his disruptive vision.
Fifty years have passed since my father created the Ingenieur SL, and it amazes me how his work continues to inspire so many people decades later. I am honored to see how IWC is preserving his artistic legacy and building on his iconic design with their new Ingenieur.
Alexia Genta, daughter of Gérald Genta and co-founder of the Gérald Genta Heritage Association
The Beauty of Engineering
First off, be warned: both the new IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40 50th Anniversary and IWC Ingenieur Automatic 35 50th Anniversary are limited to just 1,150 editions each. So, move fast, buddy.
Naturally, you can expect modern takes on movement technology, ergonomics, wearability, and detailed finishing on these anniversary limited editions, but the most telling commemorative element is a fairly deep Genta cut, along with an intriguing deviation from the expected Ingenieur formula: an uncomplicated brushed silver-plated dial.
While a structured grid dial was part of Genta’s original Ingenieur SL vision, IWC issued one rare variation in the 1970s with a straightforward brushed-finish silver dial hue. For these new limited editions, that more monochromatic, metallic, flowing dial story is retold with lumed rhodium-plated hands and metal bar hour markers.
The dial also carries another subtle reference to Ingenieur heritage: The number “50” replaces the usual lightning bolt found under the Ingenieur badging on the bottom half of the dial.
The Movement of Engineering
The 40mm execution is powered by IWC’s in-house 32111 automatic caliber, with its unique double-pawl winding system that provides up to 120 hours of power reserve. Like the original SL, an inner soft-iron core helps ward off the precision-damaging effects of magnetic fields. Abundant power and anti-magnetism are, after all, key intents for a timepiece that was originally designed for technical use. A solid case back on the 40mm model also speaks to its utility.
For the 35mm power plant, some of that technical purism is sacrificed in the 42-hour power reserve IWC Caliber 47110 automatic movement, but an exhibition caseback, gold-plated rotor, and circular graining and Geneva-stripe finishing make for a prettier picture, to be sure.
Final Thoughts
According to Christian Knoop, Creative Director at IWC Schaffhausen:
With its distinctive and bold design, the Ingenieur SL has shaped both the career of Gérald Genta and the history of IWC Schaffhausen. This integrated bracelet luxury sport watch introduced an aesthetic expression and a purist form that has lost none of its power and magic to this day.
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Introduced today, the Ingenieur Automatic 40 50th Anniversary is priced at CHF 13,200, while the 35mm version comes in at CHF 11,500. With just 1,150 pieces being made in each size, you’ll want to hurry on over to the IWC website for more information. If I were you, I’d do that, like, right now.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS | IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN INGENIEUR AUTOMATIC 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITONS
Functions
Hours, minutes, central hacking seconds, date
Movement
Mechanical self-winding movement, IWC-manufactured calibre 32111, 28,800 v.p.h, 120-hour power reserve (IW328910) // Mechanical self-winding movement, calibre 47110, 28,800 v.p.h, 42-hour power reserve (IW328909)
Case
40.00 mm × 10.80 mm stainless steel case (IW328910) // 35.00 mm × 9.40 mm stainless steel case (IW328909)
Water Resistance
10 ATM (100 m / 330 ft)
Bracelet
Integrated stainless steel bracelet
Buckle
Stainless steel butterfly folding clasp
References
IW324910 (Ingenieur Automatic 40 50th Anniversary), IW324909 (Ingenieur Automatic 35 50th Anniversary)
Price
CHF 13,200 (IW324910), CHF 11,500 (IW324909)
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