In this segment, we asked people to share the appeal of the new 2023 watches that caught their eye the most. The leader of the popular watch-related YouTube channel, "Watch Passion Supporters," chose the IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40 as his No. 1 choice. He said that this model represents the pinnacle of Genta design.
Automatic movement (Cal. 32111). 21 jewels. Power reserve: approximately 120 hours. Titanium case (diameter 40mm, thickness 10.8mm). Water resistant to 10 bar. Price: 1,958,000 yen (tax included).
Article published on June 2023, 4
The new Ingenieur for 2023 is the culmination of the brand!
I'm the leader of the Watch Passion Support Group. Today, I'd like to take a look at the IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40, a new watch for 2023 that I'm most interested in.
Automatic movement (Cal. 32111). 21 jewels. Power reserve: approximately 120 hours. Stainless steel case (diameter 40mm, thickness 10.8mm). Water resistant to 10 bar. Price: 1,628,000 yen (tax included).
Since its debut in 1955, the Ingenieur has undergone numerous model changes in the pursuit of a balance between performance and size. This latest renewal is more than just a rebirth.
This "sporty and elegant" watch was perfected over the course of a human lifetime. It embodies the ideal of the perfect Ingenieur, a watch that IWC has always sought. It is no exaggeration to say that this is the culmination of the brand.
The completion of the long-held ideal of Genta design
Born in Switzerland in 1931. After graduating from jewelry school in 51, he became a jewelry designer. In 54, he switched to watch design (officially, from 61). In 69, he founded his own design firm. He retired for a time, but made a comeback with Gerald Charles. He passed away in 2011.
The design of the new Ingenieur is based on a sketch of the Ingenieur SL drawn in 76 by the genius Gerald Genta, known as the Picasso of the watch world.
However, things didn't go exactly as planned. There were many differences between the sketch and the finished product, such as the position of the screws on the bezel (there were no screws at the time) and the chamfering of the bracelet links.
Why is that?
Now, this is just my personal opinion, but I think there were probably many things that were impossible to achieve in the 70s. Or, more accurately, it would have been impossible to do while maintaining the Ingenieur concept at the time.
Automatic movement (Cal. 8541ES). 21 jewels. 19,800 vph. Power reserve approximately 40 hours. Stainless steel case (diameter 40mm). IWC collection.
Sporty, elegant, and anti-magnetic. From a technical standpoint, it would have been possible for IWC, which had already completed the Mark 11 at the time, to achieve this. However, that didn't mean they would try to make it.
It was a time when quartz watches had just appeared, so IWC and other Swiss watch brands were in a tight spot. It's a simple story, but I think they had to make something that would definitely sell.
Since its founding, IWC has been known for its practical performance and high reliability. For them, the time was not yet ripe for the challenge of creating something as expensive as the Royal Oak. As a result, Genta's vision finally became a reality after more than 40 years.
A masterpiece woven together by creators and fans across time
The official website also states that the Ingenieur SL from the 1970s was "far ahead of its time." It was too early then, and now the time is finally ripe.
So what makes it ripe for the time? Is it because it's now possible to create a watch that's sporty, elegant, and anti-magnetic? But it's not just that. It's also important that there are people who will buy it now.
In other words, I believe the growth of the luxury watch market played a major role in the birth of the new Ingenieur. In today's mature market, there must be many people who are very interested in the luxury models made by IWC. So, let's go all out! I believe it was undoubtedly the presence of today's watch fans, our readers, that made the brand take it seriously.
Automatic movement (Cal. 32111). 21 jewels. Power reserve: approximately 120 hours. Stainless steel case (diameter 40mm, thickness 10.8mm). Water resistant to 10 bar. Price: 1,628,000 yen (tax included).
IWC is a brand that definitely responds to that. There is no barrier between makers and buyers, and they keep working until the vision of their predecessors is realized. No matter how serious the challenges may become, they see it through to the very end. This is IWC. I feel like I was reminded of that once again.
Selector Profile
He is the main MC of the YouTube channel Watch Passion Support Group, which shares the joys of watches. Dreaming of manufacturing, he got a job as a researcher at an electronics manufacturer listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. However, he discovered his interest in "handmade" rather than mass-produced products, and entered the world of artisans. He posts around 300 videos a year, with over 1300 videos to date, all with the theme of "praising craftsmanship." The total number of views has exceeded 36.3 million (as of April 2023).
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