Fifty years after the introduction of the Ingenieur SL Reference 1832, IWC Schaffhausen marks the anniversary of Gérald Genta’s influential design with two limited editions of the modern Ingenieur Automatic.
The Ingenieur Automatic 40 50th Anniversary (ref. IW328910) and Ingenieur Automatic 35 50th Anniversary (ref. IW324909) reinterpret the design in stainless steel, distinguished by brushed silver-plated dials inspired by a rare variant of the original 1970s model.
Introduced in 1976, the Ingenieur SL was the successor to the first generation of Ingenieur watches and was designed by Gérald Genta during a period when integrated-bracelet luxury sports watches were emerging as a new category within Swiss watchmaking. Despite its distinctive design, Reference 1832 was not a commercial success at launch.
Only 598 examples were produced between 1976 and 1983, and the model was rediscovered by collectors decades later, eventually becoming one of the most sought-after watches in IWC’s history.
The original Ingenieur SL is characterised by its integrated bracelet, structured grid dial and bezel secured by five functional screws.
These elements were carried over into the modern Ingenieur introduced in 2023, which retains the defining visual language of the 1970s model while revisiting its ergonomics, wearability and finishing.
The anniversary editions use the less familiar silver-plated brushed dial, complemented by rhodium-plated hands and applied metal hour markers filled with Super-LumiNova.
The dial logo has also been subtly modified, replacing the characteristic lightning bolt normally positioned below the “Ingenieur” name with the number “50”.
Both watches retain the characteristic Ingenieur bezel, secured to the case by five screws and combining a satin-finished surface with polished edges.
Their stainless steel cases and integrated bracelets attached through their middle links and fitted with butterfly folding clasps. Satin finishing and polishing are used throughout the construction.
The bracelet of the 40 mm model is entirely satin-finished, while the middle links of the 35 mm version are polished.
The Ingenieur Automatic 40 50th Anniversary measures 40 mm in diameter and 10.8 mm in height.
It is powered by the IWC-manufactured 32111 automatic calibre, which operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz) and uses 21 jewels. Its double-pawl winding system provides a power reserve of 120 hours.
The movement incorporates a soft-iron inner case for protection against magnetic fields, continuing a technical feature associated with the original Ingenieur SL.
The watch has a screw-in crown and a date display, while the central seconds hand can be stopped for precise time setting. A convex sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides protects the dial, and water resistance is rated to 10 bar (100 metres / 0 feet).
The smaller Ingenieur Automatic 35 50th Anniversary measures 35 mm in diameter and 9.4 mm in height.
It is equipped with the IWC calibre 47110, an automatic movement operating at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz), with 23 jewels and a 42-hour power reserve.
Unlike the 40 mm model, the 35 mm version features a see-through sapphire case back, through which the movement can be viewed.
The calibre is decorated with circular graining and Geneva stripes and features a gold-plated oscillating weight. The watch also has a date display, central hacking seconds and a convex sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides, while water resistance is rated to 10 bar.
The two anniversary editions are each limited to 1,150 pieces. They form part of the broader Ingenieur collection that IWC has developed since the model’s return in 2023, which now encompasses different case sizes, dial colours and materials, including stainless steel, titanium, 18-karat 5N gold, black ceramic and coloured ceramic. The collection has also expanded to include complications such as a perpetual calendar and a tourbillon.
The IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40 50th Anniversary (ref. IW328910) is priced at €14,900, while the Ingenieur Automatic 35 50th Anniversary (ref. IW324909) is priced at €13,000. iwc.com
