AN ICON RETURNS
The 2023 Watches & Wonders Geneva exhibition brought its share of surprises. Among them, an eye-catching watch by IWC. In this contemporary re-edition, form and function become one.
In the 1970s, Gerald Genta was at the helm. The watch designer imposed his style, composing some of the most beautiful creations. Among the models he designed, the Ingenieur SL Reference 1832 from IWC stands out for its pure lines and its “jumbo” size of 40mm in diameter. Given its XL size for the time, it could not go unnoticed during this daring decade. Inspired by this timepiece, the Ingenieur Automatic 40 vintage 2023 recaptures its spirit. The steel case with its revisited contours and finishes remains elegantly thin with its restrained thickness of only 10.8mm. It is still topped by a bezel held by five screws. The appearance of a crown guard is worth noting. The alternating satin and polished surfaces, also used on the links of the integrated wristband with its original clasp, enhance its sporty chic look. The dial continues to feature the original checkerboard pattern. Nevertheless, this motif is given more prominence with the help of an accentuated contrast. Three different variations are on offer this year: black, silver, or aqua with shades of turquoise.
The hour and minute hands, the second hand, as well as the date at 3 o’clock are driven by the caliber 32111 built with 165 components. This self-winding movement is housed in a soft iron case making it insensitive to magnetic fields. This robust, state-of-the-art mechanism is also high-performance. It delivers an impressive power reserve of 120 hours.IWC is also offering its Ingenieur Automatic 40 in a titanium machined version coupled with a gray-tinted setting. Style and performance are once again reunited.
