Thoughts On The New IWC Ingenieur 40

There are certain watches that have become popular and unique due to their design and engineering prowess. Think Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, Patek Philippe Nautilus, and IWC Ingénieur. Do you know what they all have in common? They were designed by Gérald Genta, one of the most popular watch designers of all time. Actually, the Ingenieur (“Engineer” in French) existed before Genta and even before the first Rolex Milgauss. Genta transformed its look in a way that he only knew how to do. After discontinuing the Ingenieur a few years ago, IWC just announced a brand new version during the 2023 Watches & Wonders watch fair. 

Source: www.lepetitpoussoir.fr

Brief History of the IWC Ingenieur

You probably have heard of the Rolex Milgauss that was designed for scientists and engineers who worked alongside machines that produced strong magnetic fields. Little did I know that IWC created an engineer watch before Rolex. Indeed, the first Ingenieur was released in 1954 in the references 666 and 766 while the first Milgauss was released in 1956. Both watches, however, were created with the same concept in mind: enveloping the movement with a soft iron cage to protect it from magnetic fields. The concept hasn’t changed much in the past 70 years as most watches still get protected from magnetism in the same way. 

Source: www.lecalibre.com

The Ingenieur line evolved multiple times in the following decades. And although there are many references that I could talk about, I’m going to lead you straight to the Genta Ingenieur, the SL. IWC was looking to upgrade the design of the Ingenieur to make it look more sporty and, at the same time, upgrade its shock protection. They hired Genta to design a brand new Ingenieur now known as the SL which stands for Sport Line. The reference 1832. The latter became a staple of the IWC catalog and has inspired other brands to design sturdy sports watches with integrated bracelets. The 1832 is the most sought-after vintage Ingenieur. 

Source: www.oracletime.com

Other versions of the Ingenieur were released following the SL, for example the 500.000 A/m which had unprecedented resistance against magnetism. In 2005—50 years after the first Ingenieur came to light—IWC released an upgraded version of the Genta model (reference 3227) equipped with a new caliber that had better protection against shocks. That’s when the modern dial appeared, displaying thicker hands and markers and a new configuration of the bezel. The latter had screws that aligned with the markers while the 1832 didn’t.) As history would have it, IWC released another Ingenieur in 2013 in the reference 3239. 

Source: www.watches.de

The 2023 IWC Ingenieur 40 

So, in 2023 IWC announced a brand new Ingenieur named the 40 and coming in four iterations, three dial colors and one version in titanium. Many people were quick at naming it the best Ingenieur since the SL released in 1976 as it preserves Genta’s design (I would say it has been updated) whilst continuing to equip with the latest technologies. Measuring 40mm in diameter, the new Ingenieur only measures 10.7mm in height and has 100 meters of water resistance. Like its predecessors, the movement is nestled within a soft iron cage to protect it from magnetism. The new caliber inside is the 32111 which comes with an impressive 120 hours of power reserve. 

From a visual standpoint, the 40 is a gorgeous timepiece. It has an ideal size of 40mm and a thin case, making it wearable by many people. It is ultra resistant against magnetism and shock, two key characteristics of a solid sports watch that can take more than one beating. I think it’s rather nice that IWC has continued to develop and improve upon the Ingenieur collection, offering fans of the brand a new interpretation of a classic. Many watch collectors had been asking for a revised version that would be closer to that of Genta’s original design from the 1970s. 

Source: www.oracletime.com

Final Thoughts

Like the Rolex Submariner, the Omega Seamaster, and the Breitling Navitimer, the IWC Ingenieur has a long history marked by several key references. What sets apart the Ingenieur from say a Milgauss is that the former has evolved more than the latter. While Genta’s talent is imprinted everywhere on the SL, it has transferred nicely onto the new 40 whilst allowing the collection to anchor itself strongly into the end of the first quarter of the 21st century. I for one believe it’s always a good thing when a big brand improves and refreshes a historic collection. And I would say IWC did a rather good job with the Ingenieur 40.