In 1976, IWC Schaffhausen brought the Ingenieur SL, reference 1832, to market. It was designed by Gérald Genta (1931–2011), the Geneva artist and watch designer who in that decade helped establish the luxury steel sports watch with an integrated bracelet as a category in its own right.

From Shelf Warmer to Icon

At first, the watch was no commercial success. Between 1976 and 1983, just 598 pieces were produced. It took decades for collectors to discover the model. Today it ranks among the most sought-after references in the brand's history.

In 2023, IWC launched the modern Ingenieur, which picks up the SL's defining design cues: the bezel secured by five functional screws, the textured «grid» dial and the integrated bracelet. The collection has since grown to include additional sizes, materials and complications, most recently a tourbillon.

To mark the SL's fiftieth anniversary, IWC is now unveiling two limited editions of the Ingenieur Automatic: one with a 40-millimeter case, the other measuring 35 millimeters. Each is limited to 1,150 pieces.

A «50» on the dial in place of the lightning bolt and a caseback engraved «One of 1150»: the Ingenieur Automatic 40 50th Anniversary. (Image: IWC)

A Dial From the Archives

Both models feature brushed silver-plated dials, inspired by a rare variant of the Ingenieur SL that IWC produced in the 1970s alongside the better-known «grid» version. The logo has also been subtly reworked: the lightning bolt normally placed beneath the «Ingenieur» name gives way to the number «50» on the anniversary editions.

«The luxury sports watch with an integrated bracelet established a new aesthetic and a purist form that have lost none of their power and magic to this day,» Christian Knoop, creative director at IWC Schaffhausen, said in the statement.

In-House Caliber and Sapphire Caseback

The larger Ingenieur Automatic 40 50th Anniversary (Ref. IW328910) is powered by the IWC-manufactured caliber 32111, which delivers a power reserve of 120 hours and features a soft-iron inner case to shield the movement from magnetic fields – just as the Ingenieur SL did in the 1970s. The smaller Ingenieur Automatic 35 50th Anniversary (Ref. IW324909) houses the caliber 47110, visible through a sapphire-glass caseback and finished with perlage and Geneva stripes.

Both models are crafted from stainless steel. On the 40-millimeter version the bracelet is fully satin-finished, while the 35-millimeter variant has polished center links.

Alexia (left) and Evelyne Genta in a video interview about the life and work of Gérald Genta. (Image: IWC)

The Family Looks Back

The launch is accompanied by a video interview with Evelyne and Alexia Genta, wife and daughter of Gérald Genta and founders of the Gérald Genta Heritage Association. Both were involved from the earliest stages of the Ingenieur relaunch in 2023, viewed early prototypes and attended IWC's presentations at the Geneva watch fair.

«The success of the Ingenieur today fills me with pride and deep satisfaction. It confirms that Gérald's artistic vision fifty years ago hit the mark exactly,» Evelyne Genta said in her conversation with IWC.