While the IWC Ingenieur can trace its origins as far back as 1955, the collection was revamped in a rather significant manner in the 1970s following the popularisation of stainless steel luxury sports watches. Designed by Gerald Genta himself, the new Ingenieur SL was a slim ‘Jumbo-sized’ case much like Genta’s Royal Oak that featured an integrated bracelet. Furthermore, it even featured a bezel with four rivets, much like the Royal Oak’s exposed screws. Following on from the Ingenieur’s initial reintroduction, it was relaunched in 2013 as a modernized take on Genta’s original 1970s redesign, with the ref. IW3239 that we have here. Boasting four different dial variants, this reference reintroduced Genta’s take on the Ingenieur to the market at a time when Genta’s designs were becoming increasingly popular. Made of stainless steel and measuring 40mm in diameter with a 10mm thick profile, these watches filled the gap left behind by Genta’s Royal Oak and Nautilus designs that were 3 times the Ingenieur’s MSRP at the time. With golden dial furniture atop its bright white dial, the ref. IW323906 combined the Ingenieur’s need for legibility with IWC’s luxury styling, creating a watch that would ultimately become a fan favourite for years to come.

Another one of Genta's great designs, the Ingenieur remains one of IWC's most popular watches thanks to its historical legacy, desirable aesthetics, and approachable price point.