Ingenieur Automatic 42 in black ceramic

With the Ingenieur Automatic 42 in black ceramic, IWC Schaffhausen marks a new stage in the history of the luxury sports watch manufacturer. Unveiled for the first time at the recent Watches and Wonders Geneva, the model represents the first integration between the iconic integrated bracelet design inspired by Gérald Genta and a case made entirely of technical ceramic. An operation of rare engineering complexity that combines aesthetics, precision and resistance.

The black zirconium oxide ceramic chosen by IWC is hard, light, insensitive to temperature fluctuations and incredibly scratch-resistant. Qualities that make it perfect for a watch intended for everyday use as well as aesthetic admiration. But shaping the Ingenieur's assertive, sculpted character with this material required an innovative multi-component case construction.

This 42 mm version, identified with the reference IW328903, features a case made up of three distinct elements: the bezel, central ring and caseback are all made of black ceramic. To support the structure, an inner ring made of titanium serves as a load-bearing element for the functional screws and ensures water-resistance up to 10 bar. The peculiarity of this solution lies in the integration of sapphire crystals, front and back, pressed directly into the ceramic, without the intermediation of titanium: a choice that allows the original proportions and volumes of the steel design to be maintained, even with the physical characteristics of the new material.

The attention to detail of the finish is what makes this example unique. The ceramic components are subjected to a sophisticated multiple process: satin finishing, sandblasting and manual polishing are applied with diamond tools, necessary to process a material with a hardness greater than 1300 Vickers. The same treatment is reserved for the integrated bracelet, which offers maximum ergonomics and an extremely light feeling on the wrist.

The dial, also black, stands out for its iconic "Grid" texture composed of lines and micro-squares, a direct reference to the DNA of the Ingenieur. The hands and indexes, which are also black, are filled with Super-LumiNova®, ensuring legibility even in low light conditions.

IWC Schaffhausen Ingenieur Automatic 42 in black ceramic Copyright © IWC Schaffhausen

The beating heart of this watch is the 82110 calibre, an automatic manufacture movement equipped with the famous Pellaton winding system, capable of accumulating up to 60 hours of power reserve. The components subject to the most wear, such as the automatic wheel, clicks and rotor bearing, are made of high-performance ceramic, providing superior strength and longevity. All this is visible through the smoked sapphire crystal caseback, which elegantly closes the total black profile of the timepiece.

This is not the first time IWC has worked with ceramics. As early as 1986, the maison had presented the first black ceramic wristwatch in zirconium oxide. Since then, innovation in materials has become an integral part of its identity, culminating in the introduction of advanced materials such as boron carbide, silicon nitride, colored ceramics and, most recently, the first CMC (Ceramic Matrix Composite) ceramic cases.

IWC's Ingenieur Automatic 42 takes ceramics to a new level of expression, both mechanical and aesthetic, in a masterpiece of balance between form and function, setting a benchmark in contemporary sports watchmaking.