IWC Schaffhausen introduces the Ingenieur Automatic 42 in dark olive green ceramic at Watches and Wonders in Geneva. This marks the first time that the Gérald Genta-derived integrated bracelet design is presented in coloured ceramic. The crown and the screws in gold provide a striking contrast to the ceramic colour. A combination of different finishing techniques including satin finishing, polishing and sand-blasting creates a refined and distinctive aesthetic. This watch is powered by the IWC-manufactured 82110 calibre featuring an automatic Pellaton winding system with ceramic components and a power reserve of 60 hours.
In 1986, IWC Schaffhausen introduced its first wristwatch with a case crafted from black zirconium oxide ceramic. Over the past four decades, the Swiss luxury watch manufacturer has continuously expanded its expertise with this highly engineered material. Ceramic offers compelling advantages such as its light weight, hardness and scratch-resistance. After introducing the first Ingenieur in black zirconium oxide ceramic last year, IWC complements the collection with a new model crafted entirely from dark olive green ceramic, underscoring its coloured ceramic expertise.
The Ingenieur Automatic 42 (Ref. IW338902) features a case ring, bezel, case back ring and crown protection made of dark olive green ceramic. Coloured ceramic is made by mixing zirconium oxide with other metallic oxides in a precisely defined mixing ratio. As the colour changes during the sintering process, it is highly complex to achieve a uniform shade across different components. The integrated ceramic bracelet is attached to the case ring via its middle links, making it sit ergonomically on the wrist. As ceramic is lighter than steel, the bracelet offers excellent wearing comfort. The “Grid”-patterned dial features the same green hue as the ceramic components. The new Ingenieur Automatic 42 is also distinguished by golden accents. Its crown is crafted from 18-carat 5N gold. The screws that secure the bezel to the case ring are made of 18-carat Armor Gold®, a material with significantly higher hardness values than conventional gold alloys. The hands and appliques are gold-plated and both filled with Super-LumiNova®.
A MULT I – PA R T C E R A M I C C A SE C ON S T R U C T I ON
The manufacturing of ceramic watch cases and components represents a true feat of engineering. One of many challenges is that the parts shrink by about one-third during the sintering process. This loss in size must be factored in already during the design phase. The new Ingenieur Automatic 42 is a true-to-proportion ceramic execution of the Gérald Genta-derived integrated bracelet design. IWC achieves this with a multi-part ceramic case construction, which eliminates the need for a movement container. A thin titanium ring secures the movement, holds the functional screws from both the front and the back, and ensures a high water resistance of 10 bar. The sapphire crystals and gaskets are pressed directly into the case and case back ring, respectively. This innovative approach yields a case construction that remains perfectly faithful to the original stainless steel design.
T H E C H A LLE N G E S O F F IN I SHING C E R A M I C
With a value of about 1300 on the Vickers scale, ceramic ranks among the hardest materials on Earth. After sintering, the material can only be processed further and machined using special diamond tools. With the Ingenieur Automatic 42, IWC once again underscores its expertise in ceramic finishing by combining satin finishing, sandblasting and polishing on the same watch. The case and bracelet components are satin-finished, and a delicate polishing is applied around their edges. Finally, a smooth sandblasting is added on top to achieve a refined look and just the right level of light reflection.
H I G H – EN D M OV EM EN T W I T H C E R A M I C C O M P O N E N T S
The Ingenieur Automatic 42 is powered by the IWC-manufactured 82110 calibre, featuring a Pellaton winding system and a 60-hour power reserve. Initially conceived by IWC’s former Technical Director, Albert Pellaton, during the 1950s, this efficient winding system utilises rotations of the oscillating mass in both directions to wind the mainspring. Parts that are subject to high stress are manufactured from zirconium oxide ceramic, making them essentially immune to wear and tear. The automatic wheel and the clicks are crafted from black ceramic, while the central rotor bearing is made of white ceramic. The balance wheel oscillating at 4 Hertz ensures a high level of precision. Elaborately decorated and finished with Geneva stripes, the movement can be viewed through the transparent sapphire glass case back.
