IWC Ingenieur Automatic 35 “Pool”

Sometimes it only takes a single colour to reveal a watch in a completely new light. With its brand-new “Pool” dial, IWC Schaffhausen brings a breath of freshness to the Ingenieur Automatic 35, one of the most successful interpretations of the design conceived by Gérald Genta in 1976. An evolution that proves a classic can reinvent itself without ever betraying its identity.

Since its rebirth in 2023, the Ingenieur collection has become one of the pillars of IWC’s renewal. True to the spirit of the original model while meeting contemporary demands for comfort, finishing and ergonomics, it appeals equally to watch enthusiasts and to lovers of sport-chic watches with integrated bracelets. This new “Pool” variant confirms the Schaffhausen manufacture’s determination to explore new aesthetic territory without betraying the legacy of one of its most iconic creations.

The Ingenieur, an icon born of Gérald Genta’s genius

Few watches can claim such a prestigious lineage. When Gérald Genta designed the Ingenieur SL Reference 1832 in 1976, he envisioned a steel sports watch whose taut lines, bezel secured by five visible screws and integrated bracelet left a profound mark on the history of watch design. Nearly half a century later, this architecture remains remarkably modern. IWC managed to preserve the proportions, personality and visual strength of the original design while adapting every detail to current manufacturing standards.

Launched in 2023, the new generation of the Ingenieur immediately found its audience. The arrival of a 35-millimetre version then further broadened its appeal, offering a more compact alternative that retains all the presence of the original model.

A “Pool” dial that changes your perspective

The true novelty of this IW324902 reference lies in its dial.

Named “Pool”, this aquatic shade instantly evokes the shimmer of crystal-clear water under the summer sun. Brighter than a classic blue, more subtle than turquoise, it gives the Ingenieur a brand-new personality while highlighting the characteristic volumes of its dial. The famous grid pattern, made up of a network of fine lines and small squares, plays an essential role here. By catching the light from different angles, it creates an impression of depth that makes the colour shift with every movement of the wrist. The rhodium-plated hands and applied indexes coated with Super-LumiNova ensure a perfectly balanced contrast, guaranteeing excellent legibility whatever the lighting conditions.

A watch that plays with light

Beyond its colour, this Ingenieur Automatic 35 is a perfect illustration of the care IWC puts into its finishing.

The 35-millimetre stainless-steel case alternates satin-brushed surfaces and polished zones with remarkable precision. This succession of textures naturally extends the work done on the integrated bracelet, whose polished central links contrast elegantly with the satin-brushed side links. This constant dialogue between the different surface treatments brings the watch to life. Depending on the lighting, the edges stand out, the volumes gain relief and the dial seems to shift in tone, offering a discreet yet ever-present display on the wrist. This mastery of finishing contributes greatly to the Ingenieur’s upscale character, echoing the aesthetic demands typical of Swiss high watchmaking.

The comfort of a perfectly mastered diameter

With a diameter of 35 millimetres for a thickness of just 9.4 millimetres, this new Ingenieur favours balance.

Far from being a mere shrink of the 40-millimetre model, this version was designed to preserve the harmonious proportions of the original design. The integrated bracelet naturally hugs the wrist while the lugs fade away in favour of a fluid continuity between the case and the first links. This exemplary ergonomics makes the Ingenieur Automatic 35 a particularly pleasant watch to wear every day, equally suited to slender wrists and to those who favour smaller diameters.

An automatic movement visible through the sapphire case-back

Beneath its refined aesthetics, the Ingenieur Automatic 35 houses the automatic calibre 47110.

Visible through the transparent sapphire case-back, this movement reveals meticulous decoration, including the traditional Côtes de Genève, fine circular graining and a gilded oscillating weight that animates the whole. Beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour, it offers a 42-hour power reserve and reliably delivers the essential functions: hours, minutes, central seconds with stop-seconds and a date display. Water-resistant to 10 bar, this Ingenieur also retains its calling as a genuine sports watch, capable of accompanying its wearer well beyond everyday urban use.

An Ingenieur collection that keeps growing

With this new Pool variant, IWC continues to develop its Ingenieur collection, offering ever more varied interpretations. After the silver- and black-dial versions, the edition crafted entirely in red gold, the dark-blue-dial model and the spectacular reference combining red gold and diamonds, this new shade brings a more summery, contemporary dimension to the range. Without overturning a formula that has largely proven itself, the manufacture demonstrates that a simple change of colour can transform a watch’s personality while respecting its DNA.

A contemporary interpretation of a great classic

The Ingenieur Automatic 35 “Pool” perfectly illustrates what makes the collection so successful today. A direct heir to Gérald Genta’s visionary line, it combines timeless aesthetics, impeccable build quality and particularly careful execution. This new colour, at once bright, original and elegant, brings a breath of freshness to one of the most appealing sport-chic watches on the market. Further proof that the great watchmaking icons don’t need to reinvent themselves entirely to keep surprising us. Sometimes it only takes a new play of light to reveal the full modernity of a design that has become timeless.

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