Buffy Acacia
It feels like IWC has never gained momentum in a fresh year. Even after dropping jaws last year with its highly complicated Portugieser Eternal Calendar, enthusiasts are going feral for its Ingenieur releases in 2025. Whether you chalk it up to the anticipation of IWC being heavily featured in the upcoming F1 movie starring Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, and Kerry Condon, or simply the current obsession with integrated bracelet watches, Andrew toured the IWC booth at CEO Christoph Watches & Wonders with Grainger-Herr will find out exactly what’s available for 2025.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xowiirzkel8
The hype for F1 film was pretty strong from the start, but now we’re at the point where the set leak and teaser trailer are ramp-extensive. After the photo leaked from the movie set, I immediately reported on Brad Pitt’s custom IWC Ingenieur, but apart from confirming it was a 1976 Vintage Reference 1832, I could only speculate about its origin. Now, Grainger-Herr confirmed that it was the result of a personal request from Pitt itself, requesting a specific reference with a green dial and half the thickness of the case.
It’s a tall order, but due to his kind of star power, IWC finished the job. IWC has since decided to release a limited edition 1,000-piece Ingenieur with all the latest perks, but retain the same green tint. You’d better watch the interview for more intimate knowledge of the film, such as how a camera designed for fighter jets can be mounted on an F1 car to capture footage.
With the Big Watch release, it is difficult to pass through the black ceramic IWC Ingenieur Automatic 42. With the exception of bright markers and hands, it is completely murdered except for making it easier to read, and the matte black finish can be seriously abused thanks to ceramic scratch resistance. It’s not just a technical achievement, it’s also a callback from 1986 when IWC was the first brand to release an all-ceramic wristwatch.
If your taste is directed towards high luxury, there are still some valuable metal options. The 40mm 5N red gold case’s Ingenuel is certainly great on the average wrist, despite being only 10.8mm tall. Then, for those who want something more compact, a 35mm reference of gold or steel hits the shrunken proportions on the head.
Finally, the classicists serve Ingenieur’s permanent calendar with a fantastic blue dial and 100m water resistance. However, the IWC was not the only one this year’s Ingenieur. This is because future films will also feature works from the pilot’s watch collection.
The highlight here could be the new skeletonized shock absorber Tour Billon XPL, which used the technology from the latest watches from Mercedes F1 team boss Toto Wolff, but integrates Tourbillon Escapement. And if the permanent calendar is yours, the pilot’s clock’s permanent calendar digital dating month could be one of the fair’s sleepers…
