The Ingenieur Automatic 42, released in 2025, is an ambitious model that uses ceramic for the case and bracelet and is equipped with the Cal. 82110 movement, which features Pellaton automatic winding. Rüdiger Bucher of WatchTime Germany explains its appeal.
Text by Rüdiger Bucher
© WatchTime Germany
Originally published in WatchTime Germany
Reprinted with permission.
[Article published on January 18, 2026]
A lightweight watch that doesn't feel larger. A full ceramic model equipped with a dedicated movement.
Three years after the spectacular debut of the current Ingenieur collection, IWC will be introducing the next highlight of the series in 2025. The Ingenieur Automatic 42 is the series' first all-ceramic model, meaning that all three parts of the case—the middle case, the bezel, and the caseback—are crafted from black ceramic.
Additionally, the crown, crown guards, and integrated bracelet are also made from this material: black zirconium oxide, the same material used for IWC's first ceramic watch, the Da Vinci, which was released in 1986.
To achieve this goal, IWC had to modify the case construction: both the bezel and the caseback are fixed by five plain screws each to a titanium inner ring, which also serves as a fastener for the movement.
Automatic movement (Cal. 82110). 22 jewels. 28,800 vph. Power reserve approximately 60 hours. Ceramic case (diameter 42 mm, thickness 11.5 mm). Water resistant to 10 bar. Price: 2,145,000 yen (tax included).
Due to these construction constraints, IWC was unable to maintain the dimensions of the previous Ingenieur Automatic 40 (40mm diameter, 10.8mm thickness). The new model is slightly larger at 42mm diameter and 11.6mm thick. However, you won't notice this when wearing it. Thanks to the ceramic construction, the watch itself is very light, and unless you place it next to a stainless steel model, you won't notice the increased size.
This is likely due to IWC's scaling up while maintaining the same proportions: it references the famous 1976 Ingenieur reference 1832, designed by Gérald Genta, and the design details created in 2023 remain the same despite the increased size.
Hard yet comfortable
Ceramic is a very comfortable material to wear. It's lightweight and adapts quickly to body heat, so it feels warm against the skin. The real benefit of this material is when the bracelet is also made of ceramic.
This is certainly the case with the Ingenieur, and it's a truly enjoyable experience to test out how it feels to wear. Ceramics are extremely hard, with zirconium oxide reaching a hardness of approximately 1300 Vickers. This makes them extremely scratch-resistant, but also extremely difficult to process.
Once removed from the sintering furnace, diamond tools are required to achieve the desired finish. IWC handles the finishing of the case and bracelet in-house: each component is first satin-brushed, then sandblasted, and finally polished along the edges.
A sophisticated dial
If the ceramic makes the Ingenieur Automatic 42 a tactile experience, the dial is the visual centerpiece. It features a checkerboard-like grid structure, similar to the early 2023-generation models. The first Genta-designed Ingenieur from 1976 also had a similarly patterned dial, though it was less elaborate than today's. Depending on the light, the pattern, made up of tiny lines and squares, emerges sometimes clearly, sometimes subtly.
The dial also features the historic "lightning bolt" logo, which adorned the first Ingenieur Ref. 666 in 1955, as well as the brand logo. The dial structure is designed to reflect light, allowing the time to be read from any angle, and Super-LumiNova, a luminous paint, helps with this in dark places.
Cal. 82110 with Pellaton automatic winding mechanism
Unlike the stainless steel and titanium models released in 2023, IWC has equipped this all-ceramic watch with a different movement: the in-house caliber 82110 with IWC's signature Pellaton automatic winding system. This movement replaces the caliber 32111, which also uses ceramic components, creating a philosophical connection with the case and bracelet.
It boasts a power reserve of approximately 60 hours and beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour. Unlike the stainless steel and titanium models, IWC has equipped this ceramic Ingenieur with a see-through case back.
The sapphire crystal on the back is smoked, which matches the black ceramic and the overall cool look of the watch, but visibility of the movement is limited due to the overlapping integrated bracelet.
Conclusion
The Ingenieur with its integrated bracelet is IWC's answer to iconic watches from Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe. The first central link is movable, allowing for a comfortable fit on the wrist.
As for the price, IWC is setting it at a significantly higher price than before: 3,203,200 yen (including tax). The 40mm stainless steel model is 1,921,700 yen (including tax), and the titanium model is 2,396,900 yen (including tax). So, this new full-ceramic Ingenieur is by no means a cheap purchase. However, once you put it on your wrist, all of its advantages will combine to make you forget about the price.
