The New IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40
The IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40 in gold introduces a fresh perspective to the collection with its deep black dial while paying tribute to Gérald Genta’s enduring legacy.
Every iconic timepiece carries an unforgettable story, and the Ingenieur is certainly one of them. On its official website, IWC narrates the story of the Ingenieur SL Ref. 1832 under the title “Our Most Brilliant Failure.” In the early 1970s, when the Swiss watch industry was shaken by the Quartz Crisis and surging gold prices, IWC Schaffhausen sought out the era’s greatest watch designer, Gérald Genta, to reinterpret the Ingenieur model first produced in the 1950s. After extensive development, Genta delivered the Ingenieur SL Ref. 1832 in 1976, featuring its distinctive five-screw bezel and integrated bracelet.
In the years that followed, IWC adopted an unconventional marketing strategy for the Ref. 1832, positioning it as a professional watch “for engineers.” Yet Genta’s bold and avant-garde design proved to be ahead of its time for that audience. Only 598 pieces were produced and sold between 1976 and 1983. Nevertheless, the Ingenieur SL 1832’s timeless design codes remained powerful enough to transcend generations.
Throughout the 1980s, the Ingenieur evolved with smaller 34 mm case sizes and various complications to suit shifting customer preferences. In 2005, marking the 50th anniversary of the original Ingenieur, IWC unveiled the Ingenieur Automatic Ref. 3227, faithfully carrying forward Genta’s signature design elements. Over the following years, the collection expanded with new materials and mechanical complications. The Ingenieur SL 1832, with its enduring and instantly recognizable aesthetic, continued to inspire the collection and became one of the most sought-after IWC timepieces among collectors.
In 2023, the Ingenieur Automatic 40 reintroduced Genta’s bold spirit in a fully re-engineered automatic model built to meet the highest contemporary standards. By 2025, this modern reinterpretation has returned—now with a luxurious golden touch.
A Golden Touch, Vintage Soul: Ingenieur Automatic 40 (Ref. IW328702)
The Ingenieur Automatic 40 (Ref. IW328702) is crafted entirely from 18-carat 5N gold. The case, case ring, bezel, crown guards, crown, and bracelet links are all fashioned from solid gold. With its 40 mm case diameter, the watch offers excellent wearability, while the integrated bracelet enhances comfort and balance on the wrist. The satin finish on the bezel and bracelet links amplifies the watch’s refined brilliance, catching the light at every angle.
The black “Grid” dial, composed of fine lines and squares, creates an elegant contrast against the golden case and imparts a subtle vintage charm. The applied hour markers are also made of 5N gold and individually hand-set. The gold-plated hour, minute, and seconds hands, along with the markers, are filled with Super-LumiNova®, ensuring optimal legibility under any lighting conditions.
Powering the watch is the in-house Calibre 32111, visible through the sapphire crystal case back. Featuring a twin-pawl winding system, the movement delivers an impressive 120-hour power reserve. The blued screws and Côtes de Genève finishing lend the movement an artisanal flair, while the open case back invites you to witness the rhythmic heartbeat of the mechanism itself.
Gazing at the time through the Ingenieur’s black dial feels like revisiting one of the most inspiring chapters in the history of watchmaking.
