Hands-on: The new IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40
Eqotime has taken a look at the new Tudor Ranger, a watch with a solid history tested under harsh conditions.
Text: Aleksandar Mladenovic
Image: Aleksandar Mladenovic / IWC
A new Genta Ingenieur has been on many people's wish lists for a very long time. The latest version with clear inspiration from the original was taken out of production around 2017 and since then there has not been an Ingenieur like the very popular original, the Ingenieur SL Jumbo ref. 1832 from 1976. That is why there were very many who looked forward to this launch and we at Eqotime have had a first look.
The new IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40 is the closest IWC has released to the original version from the mid-70s that was designed by Gérald Genta. But it is still a modern interpretation that is not a straight ”re-issue”.
The model measures, as the name gives away, 40mm and unlike the original Jumbo from 1976 this new edition is actually slimmer. It measures 10.8mm in thickness and wears nicely on the wrist. The length of the case amounts to 45.8mm. Despite its measurements the watch still has a proper presence on the wrist.
The model is released in 4 different versions where 3 are in steel and the last one, also the editorial team's favourite, is in titanium. In steel we have dials in black, white and a nice green-blue colour. In titanium the dial is light grey.
Common to all versions is that they have a grid pattern, with clear inspiration from the original but now much more prominent. The dials stand out in a good way and add quite a lot of life to the model. Here IWC has succeeded very well in the editorial team's eyes.
The case and bracelet hold a consistently high finish and the brushed case and bracelet have polished details. The crown guards protect the screw-down crown and the watch is water resistant down to 100m. Note that the ”aqua” coloured model has polished centre links.
The titanium model differs from the other models in steel as it has a sandblasted finish that chimes very well with the Ingenieur's history and IWC's use of titanium as a case material historically.
As for the integrated bracelet, it feels stable and follows the wrist in a pleasant way. The clasp is a double folding clasp that is opened by two push buttons.
Inside the watches ticks IWC's calibre 32111 which is an automatic one with 120 hours of power reserve.
One of the biggest talking points around the new IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40 has become the price tag. Price-wise it is far from the latest popular Ingenieur ref. 3239 and the list price for the models in steel is 142,000kr (178,000kr in titanium). From what the editorial team has understood they will also, at least initially, only be availabe in IWC's own boutiques.
We let you readers decide what you yourselves think about the price tag, but it is clear that IWC wants to position itself around competitors such as Chopard's Alpine Eagle and Girard-Perregaux Laureato when it comes to the segment of 70s-inspired sports watches in steel.
Read more about the watch at IWC
