The IWC Ingenieur is back: a revival of the original 1970s design

The Ingenieur, designed by Gerald Genta, never became a standard model despite its enthusiastic following. However, the boom in luxury sports watches and the revival of Genta designs have brought the classic design back into the spotlight. The new Ingenieur with an integrated bracelet is modeled after the 1976 model but has been refined to meet modern standards, making it a versatile watch for a new era.

The Ingenieur Automatic 40, a revival of Genta design

　The IWC Ingenieur, released in 1955, was a model aimed at connoisseurs, boasting high levels of anti-magnetic performance. Its prototype was the pilot's watch Mark 11. By replacing the manual-winding caliber 89 with an automatic movement, it was adapted for civilian use. To reflect its character, the model name "Ingenieur," which means engineer in French, was chosen.

　The Ingenieur underwent a major change in 76. The Ingenieur SL evolved into a model with an integrated bracelet, designed by the cutting-edge watch designer Gérald Genta. From then on, Genta's sporty design became the Ingenieur's distinctive character. However, after the 2010s, Genta's designs fell out of favor outside of Japan, and the Ingenieur was redesigned to a more orthodox design.

　However, with the boom in luxury sports watches, IWC decided to revive the design of the original SL. However, the new Ingenieur is not just a reissue. It can be said that the essence of the 1976 Ingenieur SL has been incorporated into the Ingenieur Automatic 40, which was released in 2013. For example, the grid pattern on the dial is the same as the SL, but the crown guards are borrowed from the 2013 model.

　The biggest changes are in the details rather than the design. The case back is now flatter, and the middle case is slightly tapered towards the tip. The mirrored edges have also been made more prominent, increasing the contrast with the satin finish and highlighting the three-dimensional feel of the watch. The grid pattern on the dial was also created by grinding the surface after it had been punched out with a press. Most previous Ingenieur models had dials made from soft iron, which is difficult to work with, rather than brass. Adding an elaborate finish was difficult, but this model overcame that challenge by adding grinding.

The crown guard gives the impression of a modern model. The thicker mirrored edges create a sense of luxury. IWC CEO Christoph Grainger-Herr said, "The new Ingenieur is a luxury sports watch." The "holes" in the bezel have also been placed in an appropriate position.

The case back is flatter than the 2013 model, and combined with the short 45.7mm case length, it feels comfortable to wear.

　The movement is the Cal. 32111, a Val Fleurier ebauche tuned by IWC. As we've repeatedly mentioned in this magazine, it's an automatic movement with excellent winding efficiency and precision. Additionally, the new model also features a soft-iron inner case, which provides high magnetic resistance. While the company hasn't disclosed the magnetic resistance rating, designer Christian Knoop says it's 44,000 A/m, and the poster states it's 46,700 A/m. Considering the case thickness of 10.8mm, this should be sufficient.

　Regardless, the new Ingenieur, with its iconic design, high-quality feel, and usable performance, is sure to appeal to anyone, even those who aren't IWC fans. As a watch, it's extremely well-balanced.