IWC Goes Full Ceramic with the New Ingenieur Automatic 42
IWC showed up strong at Watches & Wonders 2025 with several new additions to the Ingenieur lineup, and one of the most striking is the Ingenieur Automatic 42 in full black ceramic. It’s bold, technical, and unlike anything we’ve seen in this collection before.
And when I say full ceramic, I mean it. Case, bezel, crown, bracelet—every visible element is crafted from zirconium oxide ceramic. It’s the first time IWC has rendered the Genta-era Ingenieur design entirely in this material, and the result is a stealthy, ultra-modern sports watch that doubles as a showcase of serious engineering.
The Basics
Case: 42mm diameter, 11.6mm height, black zirconium oxide ceramic
Crystal: Sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
Movement: IWC-manufactured calibre 82110 with Pellaton winding system, 60-hour power reserve
Water Resistance: 100m / 10 bar
Strap Options: Integrated black ceramic bracelet with butterfly clasp
Price: TBD
The Juice
If 2023’s stainless steel Ingenieur relaunch brought the Genta-designed icon back into the spotlight, this new ceramic version feels like the next evolution. The all-black look is dramatic, but this isn’t just a color swap. It’s a complete rethink in terms of materials and construction.
Zirconium oxide ceramic is incredibly hard, about 1300 Vickers on the hardness scale, and has the added benefit of being lighter than steel and virtually immune to scratches. But what’s most impressive is how IWC executed this build. The case uses a three-part construction: a ceramic case ring, bezel, and case back ring, all held together by functional screws that thread into a hidden titanium inner ring. That internal structure is key, not just for securing the movement, but for achieving a legit 10-bar (100m) water resistance.
The ceramic bracelet deserves its own spotlight. Not only is it integrated into the case with that signature Genta-inspired middle-link connection, but it’s also ergonomically shaped and fully finished with a mix of brushing, sandblasting, and polished edges. Finishing ceramic to this level isn’t easy. It requires diamond tools and serious patience, but the result here is beautiful. Light reflects differently across every surface, adding depth and nuance to the all-black aesthetic.
The dial sticks with the familiar Ingenieur look: black-on-black with a subtle Grid texture, luminous metal markers, and matching black hands filled with Super-LumiNova. It’s clean, legible, and aggressive without being over-designed. There’s no gloss, no frills, just sharp, modern tool-watch energy.
Powering it all is the in-house calibre 82110. It’s the same movement we’ve seen in other modern IWCs, but it feels especially appropriate here. The Pellaton winding system inside has been upgraded with ceramic components like the automatic wheel, clicks, and rotor bearing, so the material story isn’t just skin deep. You get 60 hours of power reserve and a smooth 4 Hz beat, all visible through a tinted sapphire case back that completes the murdered-out look.
Final Thoughts
IWC has always been a materials-forward brand. They were doing ceramic back in the ’80s before it was cool, and this new Ingenieur proves they haven’t lost that edge. There are other ceramic sports watches out there, some with much higher price tags, but very few have this level of technical depth, thoughtful construction, and actual wearability.
It would’ve been easy for this to be a design exercise, a cool-looking watch that you wear once a year. But this thing is a real daily option. It’s not too thick, the 42mm case wears lighter than expected thanks to the material, and the blacked-out look is surprisingly versatile. It’s stealthy, yes, but also refined in a way that makes it feel more “undercover luxury” than loud statement piece.
So if you’ve been waiting for IWC to really push the boundaries with the Ingenieur, beyond just bringing it back, this is the one. I can't wait to get more time with this piece. You can learn more about the IWC Ingenieur Automatic 42 Ceramic here.
