It’s the 50th anniversary of IWC’s Gerald Genta designed Ingenieur SL, a model they revived in 2023 with the Ingenieur Automatic 40 and subsequently the downsized Automatic 35. They have been celebrating this iconic model throughout the year – in spring they released a fleet of Ingenieur complication models at Watches & Wonders and now for the summer they’re releasing a vibrant new colourway. The new watch is called the Ingeniuer Automatic 35 Pool.
Jumping straight to the dial, it’s presented in a new ‘Pool’ colour for the first time. It’s a light shade of turquoise that conjures images of your local lido shimmering under the sun. Although with the signature Grid pattern across the display, perhaps it’s more of a mosaic tiled indoor pool at a spa retreat. Regardless, it’s all about relaxation and lounging at the poolside.
With a 35mm stainless steel case featuring a 100m water resistance rating, it’s not a dedicated dive watch but it should survive an accidental spill into the pool or some boisterous splashing from an unaware swimmer. 35mm is particularly small for an integrated bracelet sports watch, leading it to favour those with slimmer wrists. I do think it’s a missed opportunity that IWC tend to release new colours as size exclusives instead of releasing them across the full range. I see no reason that collectors wouldn’t be interested in a 40mm version too.
Housed inside the IWC Ingeniuer Automatic 35 Pool is the calibre 47110 with automatic winding and 42-hour power reserve. It’s visible through the sapphire caseback where you can admire the concentric rings of its Côtes de Genève finishing across both the plate and golden rotor.
Given that this is just a new colour dial on the existing Automatic 35 model, it’s unsurprisingly priced the exact same as the standard model. That makes it £8,900. The Ingenieur’s price has always been one of its most contentious points given that its specs aren’t particularly stand out in comparison to watches at that price point, but the legacy of its Genta design and signature style keeps collectors interested. On the occasion of its 50th anniversary, the modern Ingenieur is only cementing its icon status further.
Price and Specs:
More details at IWC.
