Gerald Genta’s Ingenieur SL, Pilot’s Chronographs Feature Prominently in IWC Launches at Watches and Wonders 2023

IWC Schaffhausen has unveiled its latest collection at Watches and Wonders 2023, showcasing an impressive range of innovative timepieces that pay homage to an iconic design of Gérald Genta while venturing into new horological dimensions with their Pilot's Chronographs.

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The New Ingenieur Automatic 40:

IWC Schaffhausen's new release, the Ingenieur Automatic 40, is a tribute to the sleek and technical designs of the 1970s. Inspired by Gérald Genta's renowned Ingenieur SL, the watch embodies the FORM UND TECHNIK banner, honouring the minimalist and practical design principles of that era.

“The new Ingenieur Automatic 40 is a versatile luxury sports watch for the 21st century,” says Chris Grainger-Herr, CEO, IWC Schaffhausen. “While being faithful to the original design signature, the new Ingenieur Automatic 40 is a perfect embodiment of IWC’s engineering excellence,” adds Christian Knoop, Chief Design Officer, IWC Schaffhausen.

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Material Competence 

IWC offers the Ingenieur Automatic 40 timepiece in stainless steel with three options: black, silver or aqua dial. The watch also comes with an integrated steel bracelet with a butterfly folding clasp. For a lighter and skin-friendly option, IWC has presented the Ingenieur Automatic 40 in grade 5 titanium with sandblasted, satin-finished and polished surfaces, a grey dial, black hands and appliques, and a grade 5 titanium bracelet with a butterfly folding clasp, which further emphasises the beauty and thinness of the H-link bracelet.

Enhanced Features

The watch's lug-to-lug distance of 45.7 mm ensures optimal ergonomics, making it comfortable even for slender wrists. The nose-shaped horns of its predecessor have been replaced by a newly engineered middle-link attachment. One of the most striking changes involves the introduction of polygonal screws on the bezel. The dial also features a distinctive ‘Grid’ structure that not only balances the technical and sculptural design of the watch, but also ensures easy legibility at night, with appliques that add depth.

The watch's IWC-manufactured 32111 calibre powers its precise automatic pawl winding system with a remarkable 120-hour power reserve. The watch also features a soft-iron inner case, efficiently protecting the movement from magnetic fields that can affect its accuracy.

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The First 41 mm Pilot’s Chronographs in Ceramic

IWC launched ‘The Colors of TOP GUN’ in 2022, a collection of Pilot's Watches in coloured ceramic, including chronographs in new shades like IWC Lake Tahoe white and IWC Woodland green, developed with Pantone®. Now, for Watches and Wonders 2023, IWC has added two 41 mm ceramic chronographs to the lineup, for the first time for Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41.

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The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 TOP GUN ‘Oceana’ (Ref. 389404)

Paying homage to the U.S. Navy's blue overalls, the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 TOP GUN ‘Oceana’ features a case made of blue ceramic. The watch's colour, ‘Oceana’, was created in collaboration with Pantone®, global colour authority and IWC partner. In fact, IWC was one of the first watch brands to experiment with coloured ceramics. The chronograph boasts a blue dial and a matching rubber strap with a denim-finish textile inlay. Furthermore, its black hands and dial luminesce allow easy reading, even in the dark. Lightweight titanium is used for the pushers and the caseback.

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The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 TOP GUN (Ref. 389401)

IWC's debut 41 mm Pilot's Chronograph in black ceramic, featuring the signature ‘Jet Black’ material, is inspired by supersonic jet components, popularised by the TOP GUN line since 2007. The black ceramic case, the dial and the rubber strap are enhanced by contrasting luminescent elements on the hands and the dial. Titanium pushers and the caseback add a sporty touch while the IWC EasX-CHANGE® system allows for tool-free strap swapping.

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The Performance 

Both chronographs run on IWC's 69380 calibres, crafted for sturdy, dependable performance. The stopped minutes are placed at 12 o'clock for clear reading and the vertical dial layout reflects IWC's functional design philosophy. With a soft-iron inner case and pressure-resistant front glasses, the models are protected against magnetic fields and abrupt pressure changes in the cockpit.

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Visual Highlights
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The IWC booth at Watches and Wonders 2023 is also featuring Mercedes-Benz C 111-III, an experimental car from the 1970s, with a strikingly futuristic design. Iconic furniture pieces by Vitra further complement the space. 

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But the most exciting feature of the exhibition is the Ingenieur space in the Metaverse, exclusively available to members of the IWC Diamond Hand Club. This virtual space connects Genta's unmistakable artistic signature with the cutting-edge technology of the future.  

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