The Watch Gérald Genta got wrong - and fifty years later, he's been proven right

Picture the least dramatic version of failure. A watch that sits in a display case for a few seasons, admired by almost no one, and then stops being made altogether. This was the fate of the Ingenieur SL, designed by Gérald Genta in 1976. It was a bold, forward-looking design, but by commercial measures, it was a miscalculation.

Between 1976 and 1983, IWC produced only 598 of these watches before production ended. For decades, the Ingenieur SL remained unseen and unappreciated. It wasn't until recent years that collectors rediscovered it. Today, the watch is one of the most sought-after models in IWC's history, so much so that the brand has built its 50th-anniversary celebration around it.

Scarce pieces age well, and the Ingenieur SL proved this truth. IWC has released two limited editions of the modern Ingenieur Automatic to commemorate the occasion, each with a production cap of 1,150 pieces. These new watches are direct descendants of the original SL, maintaining its distinctive features. The dial of the anniversary watches features a brushed, silver-plated design rather than the original's grid dial, making it a more obscure choice.

Additionally, the lightning bolt symbol beneath the watch's name has been replaced with the number 50, symbolizing fifty years of the watch's ongoing success. Gérald Genta's daughter, Alexia, emphasized the continuity of his design's impact, while IWC's Creative Director, Christian Knoop, highlighted its lasting power in shaping both Genta's career and IWC's history.